Atrazine (ATZ), the second most widely used pesticide globally, poses potential risks to non-target aquatic organisms. However, its toxicological impacts on the economically valuable Chlamys nobilis remain unknown. This study investigates the toxicological effects of ATZ on the economically important C. nobilis. We assessed tissue integrity, physiological functions, and transcriptional profiles following ATZ exposure. Mortality in C. nobilis was observed to be time- and dose-dependent. Gill tissue damage was first noted at 5 μg/L ATZ, with severity increasing at higher concentrations. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were significantly elevated at 5 μg/L and 50 μg/L compared to controls but declined at 500 μg/L (P < 0.05). Glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity increased in all exposed groups except at 500 μg/L, peaking at 5 μg/L (P < 0.05). Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels rose significantly at 0.5 μg/L and further increased with higher ATZ concentrations (P < 0.05). RNA-seq analysis revealed 167 and 282 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 0.5 μg/L and 50 μg/L, respectively, enriched in pathways related to the endocrine, sensory, and digestive systems. Our findings highlight the toxic effects of ATZ on C. nobilis and contribute to the environmental risk assessment of this pesticide.
Sun et al. (Thu,) studied this question.