Ugo IARIA

Intergenerational Effects of Bisphenol S on the Physiological Responses of the Three-Spined Stickleback

BPA is considered a substance of very high concern due to its endocrine-disrupting properties (ED), its high production volumes, and its persistence in the aquatic environment. Furthermore, after being classified as an ED, it was included on the list of substances subject to authorization under REACh and listed as a priority substance under the Water Framework Directive (WFD). As a result, BPA substitutes, such as bisphenols AF, B, F, S, and dimethyl-BPA, have been introduced to the market. However, considering BPA's toxicity not only on reproduction and endocrine function but also on immune responses and energy metabolism, the potential toxicity of its substitutes must be assessed. Based on preliminary results obtained within the Horizon-Europe PARC project (European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals), one substitute will be selected, and his transgenerational impacts on key physiological processes (reproduction, innate immunity, energy metabolism) in the three-spined stickleback will be evaluated. To this end, fertilized eggs will be exposed to a range of concentrations up to the three-spined stage, after which the individuals will be monitored until sexual maturity. Energy transfers between parents and offspring, as well as physiological consequences at different developmental stages, will be assessed. Finally, the link between experimental observations at the organism level and potential effects on individual viability will be explored using a mechanistic mathematical model developed for the stickleback at INERIS, the "Dynamic Energy Budget" (DEB) model.