Unveil the toxicity induced on early life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and its enantiomers.
The Science of the total environment December 10, 2024 Ondina Ribeiro, Luís Félix, Cláudia Ribeiro et al. 1 citation
MDMA (ecstasy) and its two mirror-image forms (enantiomers) cause distinct toxic effects in zebrafish embryos and larvae at concentrations as low as 0.02 μg/L, which are found in polluted waters. (S)-MDMA increases mortality and birth defects and disrupts the startle-habituation response, while (R)-MDMA suppresses general activity and avoidance behavior. The racemic mixture produces greater DNA damage than either enantiomer alone. Although MDMA does not accumulate in zebrafish tissues, these developmental, behavioral, and genetic effects could reduce larval survival and increase predation risk, raising concerns for wild fish populations. The findings demonstrate that enantioselective toxicity should be included in environmental risk assessments for MDMA.