Phthalate ester hydrolases and phthalate ester toxicity in synchronously developing larvae of the brine shrimp ( [formula omitted])

Di-n-butyl phthalate (DNBP) is toxic to synchronously developing larvae of the brine shrimp, Artemia . The LD50 for 24 h exposure is approximately 30 μM (8 ppm). DNBP is concentrated by larvae, and maximal uptake of DNBP precedes the onset of mortality. At the time of maximal uptake, most of the DNBP remains in the form of the diester. By the time of maximal mortality nearly all of the DNBP has been converted to the monoester, n-butanol and possibly other polar metabolities. n-Butanol and mono-n-butyl phthalate directly incubated with larvae were nontoxic when tested in concentrations at which DNBP was toxic. Soluble enzyme(s) extracted from the hatched larvae, but not from the dormant embryos, can convert DNBP to its monoester and n-butanol. The amount of enzyme activity increased with larval development in parallel with the kinetics of acute toxicity. The enzyme may be significant in the developmental program as well as in the mediation or moderation of the toxic effects of DNBP in Artemia larvae.