Assessing the effects of the antidepressant venlafaxine to fathead minnows exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations over a full life cycle

Venlafaxine is an antidepressant drug that has been detected in municipal wastewater effluents at low μg/L concentrations. To assess the potential of this compound to affect the survival, development and reproductive capacity of fish, we exposed fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) over a full lifecycle in a flow-through system to nominal venlafaxine concentrations of 0.88, 8.8, and 88 μg/L. Mean measured venlafaxine concentrations in these treatments were 1.0, 9.3 and 75 μg/L. During the 167–168 d exposure, no significant changes were observed in survival, or the weights and lengths of fathead minnows. At maturity, there were no significant differences relative to controls in condition factor, liver-somatic index, or secondary sex characteristics in the venlafaxine exposed male or female fish. Fathead minnows from the highest venlafaxine treatment (i.e. 88 μg/L) produced 46% more eggs per female than control fish (p = 0.031). Egg quality, % fertilization, % hatching, and % deformities in F1 fry were unaffected by exposure of the parent fish to venlafaxine at any of the test concentrations. Venlafaxine exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations (i.e. 0.88 and 8.8 μg/L) caused no adverse effects in fathead minnows. This study is the first to assess the potential for effects in fish exposed to the antidepressant venlafaxine over a full lifecycle. [Display omitted] •Fathead minnow exposed over a full lifecycle in a flow-through system.•Antidepressant Venlafaxine concentrations of 0.88, 8.8, and 88 μg/L.•No effects on survival, growth, maturation, or offspring hatching.•Highest venlafaxine exposure significantly increased egg production.•Environmentally-relevant venlafaxine concentrations cause no effects in fathead minnows. No effects in fathead minnow exposed for a lifecycle to venlafaxine at environmentally-relevant concentrations.