There is general concern whether human exposure to selected Canadian bottled
waters and the chemicals which may leach from them, could potentially cause deleterious
effects. This research was designed to determine whether exposures to bottled water and
plastic leachates caused toxicity to the freshwater Cnidarian Hydra viridissima (green
hydra). Three chemicals used in the production of polycarbonate and polyethylene
plastics, bisphenol A (BPA) and two phthalate esters: dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and bis (2-
ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) along with one type of commercial bottled water were
investigated. One brand of bottled water was analyzed over four months (stored in light
and dark conditions) along with lab water similarly stored in glass, polycarbonate and
polyethylene bottles. Following 2, 4, 8 and 16 weeks in each of the two treatments, hydra
bioassays were conducted. Chronic toxicity tests were also conducted on the two
phthalates and BPA. The chronic toxicity tests showed that BPA caused effects on hydra
morphology and population at low doses and DBP and DEHP both showed signs of
hormesis.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:OOSHDU.10155/38 |
| Date | 01 August 2009 |
| Creators | Ganeshakumar, Mathumai |
| Contributors | Holdway, Douglas |
| Publisher | UOIT |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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