Endocrine modulation and toxic effects of two commonly used UV screens on the aquatic invertebrates Potamopyrgus antipodarum and Lumbriculus variegatus

The two UV screens 3-benzylidene-camphor (3-BC) and 3-(4′-methylbenzylidene)-camphor (4-MBC) were tested regarding their toxicity and estrogenic activity. The Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES) and two sediment assays with the freshwater invertebrates Lumbriculus variegatus and Potamopyrgus antipodarum were performed. In the YES, both substances activated the human estrogen receptor α with EC50 values of 44.2 μM for 3-BC and 44.3 μM for 4-MBC, whereby 4-MBC attained only 8% of the maximal response of 17β-estradiol. For P. antipodarum embryo production increased after exposure to both substances (EC50 of 4.60 μM 4-MBC = 1.17 mg kg−1 dw) while mortality increased at high concentrations. The reproduction of L. variegatus was decreased by 3-BC with an EC50 of 5.95 μM (=1.43 mg kg−1 dw) and also by 4-MBC, where no EC50 could be calculated. While reproduction decreased, the worms' weight increased after exposure to 3-BC with an EC50 of 26.9 μM (= 6.46 mg kg−1 dw), hence the total biomass remained unaffected.