Regional distribution of the plastic additive tris(butoxyethyl) phosphate in Nanyang Lake estuary, China, and toxic effects on Cyprinus carpio

There is increasing concern regarding the toxicological effects of plastic additives on humans and aquatic organisms. This study investigated effects of the plastic additive tris(butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) on Cyprinus carpio by measuring concentration distribution of TBEP in the Nanyang Lake estuary, as well as toxic effects of varying doses of TBEP exposure on carp liver. This also included measuring responses of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease (caspase). Concentrations of TBEP in the polluted water environment (water company inlets, urban sewage pipes, etc.) in the survey area were as high as 76.17–3875.29 μg/L, and 3.12 μg/L in the river flowing through the urban area, and 1.18 μg/L in the estuary of the lake. In the subacute toxicity test, SOD activity in liver tissue with an increase in TBEP concentration was reduced significantly, while the MDA content continued to increase with an increase in TBEP concentration. Inflammatory response factors (TNF-α and IL-1β) and apoptotic proteins (caspase-3 and caspase-9) gradually increased with increasing concentrations of TBEP. Additionally, reduced organelles, increased lipid droplets, swelling of mitochondria, and disorder of mitochondrial cristae structure were observed in liver cells of TBEP-treated carp. Generally, TBEP exposure induced severe oxidative stress in carp liver tissue, resulting in release of inflammatory factors and inflammatory response, mitochondrial structure changes, and the expression of apoptotic proteins. These findings benefit our understanding about the toxicological effects of TBEP in aquatic pollution. Graphical Abstract