Analysis of Arsenite Acute Toxic Effects Based on Bayesian Model Averaging in Embryo, Larva, Juvenile and Adult Zebrafish.
- 1Nanjing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210003, China.
- 2School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 561113, China.
- 3Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, China.
Abstract
Arsenic is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant with well-documented human health risks, among which trivalent arsenic (arsenite) exhibits the highest toxicity. Although the acute toxicity of arsenite has been extensively studied in zebrafish embryos, its effects across other developmental stages remain largely unknown. In the present study, the acute toxicity of arsenite was evaluated across four zebrafish life stages-embryo, larva, juvenile, and adult-using both probit regression and Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA). Both methods revealed that LC₅₀ values progressively decreased with increasing exposure time across all life stages, and susceptibility followed the order of embryo < larva < juvenile < adult. Additionally, Benchmark Dose (BMD), Benchmark Dose Lower Bound (BMDL), and Benchmark Dose Upper Bound (BMDU) values decreased with prolonged exposure, confirming a clear dose-response relationship. Notably, LC₅₀ values estimated by BMA were consistently higher than those derived from probit regression, suggesting that the conventional approach may produce conservative estimates. Our findings not only establish a robust foundation for arsenic risk assessment across the entire zebrafish life cycle, but also provide experimental evidence that calls for a life-stage-informed revision of current arsenic safety thresholds.
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BibTeX
@article{zhu2026analysis,
title = {{Analysis of Arsenite Acute Toxic Effects Based on Bayesian Model Averaging in Embryo, Larva, Juvenile and Adult Zebrafish.}},
author = {Yuanhui Zhu and Yan Zhang and Tingxu Jin and Shougang Zhang and Guixiang Ji},
journal = {Toxics},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/toxics14100840},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42931627},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Analysis of Arsenite Acute Toxic Effects Based on Bayesian Model Averaging in Embryo, Larva, Juvenile and Adult Zebrafish.
AU - Yuanhui Zhu
AU - Yan Zhang
AU - Tingxu Jin
AU - Shougang Zhang
AU - Guixiang Ji
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/22
JO - Toxics
DO - 10.3390/toxics14100840
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42931627
AB - Arsenic is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant with well-documented human health risks, among which trivalent arsenic (arsenite) exhibits the highest toxicity. Although the acute toxicity of arsenite has been extensively studied in zebrafish embryos, its effects across other developmental stages remain largely unknown. In the present study, the acute toxicity of arsenite was evaluated across four zebrafish life stages-embryo, larva, juvenile, and adult-using both probit regression and Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA). Both methods revealed that LC₅₀ values progressively decreased with increasing exposure time across all life stages, and susceptibility followed the order of embryo < larva < juvenile < adult. Additionally, Benchmark Dose (BMD), Benchmark Dose Lower Bound (BMDL), and Benchmark Dose Upper Bound (BMDU) values decreased with prolonged exposure, confirming a clear dose-response relationship. Notably, LC₅₀ values estimated by BMA were consistently higher than those derived from probit regression, suggesting that the conventional approach may produce conservative estimates. Our findings not only establish a robust foundation for arsenic risk assessment across the entire zebrafish life cycle, but also provide experimental evidence that calls for a life-stage-informed revision of current arsenic safety thresholds.
SN - 2305-6304
ER -