Decreased Soil Water Content Effects on the Toxicity of Triclosan to Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.)

Due to the rising amounts of antimicrobial agents in the environment and the lack of knowledge on their ecotoxicity, there is growing concern regarding their effects on the environment. One of the most widely used antibacterial compounds in both personal care and pharmaceutical products is triclosan (TCS), which is also a commonly detected emerging organic contaminant in the environment. Physiological or morphological endpoints of whole-organism analysis are typically used in reported studies of TCS toxicity to terrestrial plants. To identify underlying toxicity mechanisms, more in-depth investigations of TCS-induced effects at the biochemical plant level are required. Furthermore, climate change is an issue that is becoming more and more serious and might have a significant impact on life on the Earth. The influence of climate parameters on the ecotoxicity of antimicrobials, particularly TCS, is little understood. The main objective of this study was to evaluate drought effect on triclosan toxicity to oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). Brassica napus were grown in TCS-contaminated soil (10-400 mg kg -1) under different soil water contents (5% and 30% SWC). B.napus morphological (dry weight, length of the roots and shoots), biochemical indicators (the activity of enzymes), and the damage of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation) were detected. Drought enhanced the negative effect of triclosan on the above-ground part of B. napus and led to oxidative stress.