{"id":{"repo_id":"uhi-uk","oai_identifier":"oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/73aeb017-f485-4aa0-9d84-01809e013b70"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/uhi-uk/oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/73aeb017-f485-4aa0-9d84-01809e013b70","repository":{"repo_id":"uhi-uk","name":"University of the Highlands and Islands","base_url":"https://pureadmin.uhi.ac.uk/ws/oai"},"display":{"title":"Hydrogen peroxide-induced genotoxicity and transgenerational implications in sea urchins","abstract":"Hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) is an antiparasitic treatment against sea lice in Atlantic salmon aquaculture and is released into the surrounding waters. H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> is presumed to degrade and dilute rapidly within days and considered environmentally friendly. However, modelling studies showed persistence of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> up to 1km from release sites. H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> is a known genotoxicant and this thesis investigates degradation rates and genotoxicity in sea urchins exposed to environmentally-relevant concentrations of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. The degradation rate of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> was 1% per day, slower than reported in previous studies which suggested limited environmental impact due to rapid breakdown in seawater. Sea urchins were selected as bioindicator species and exposed to environmentally-relevant exposure simulations of pelagic and benthic life stages to H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. Genotoxicological impacts were assessed in adult coelomocytes and tube feet, gametes, and embryos. The fast micromethod was used to quantify DNA strand breaks in sea urchin coelomocytes, then further developed to include simultaneous quantification of DNA strand breaks, oxidised DNA bases, and methylated cytosines. Interspecies differences in susceptibility to DNA damage were detected in coelomocytes of three Scottish species. Low concentration of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> (500μM, 100-times dilution of sea lice treatment) induced DNA damage in coelomocytes from adult aqueous exposures after 1h, but the damage rapidly returned to control levels by 3h. Gametes (eggs and sperm) exposed to H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> did not impact gamete viability but resulted in reduced fertilisation success and elevated DNA damage in embryos, possibly through sublethal DNA damage maintained through fertilisation and unrepaired in early stages of development. This thesis provides evidence of environmentally-relevant levels of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-induced DNA damage in multiple stages in the sea urchin life cycle. Genotoxic evidence in sea urchins calls the need for strict regulations on safe disposal of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and other environmental chemicals to ensure the health of benthic and pelagic ecosystems in the marine environment.","abstract_html":"Hydrogen peroxide (H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;) is an antiparasitic treatment against sea lice in Atlantic salmon aquaculture and is released into the surrounding waters. H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; is presumed to degrade and dilute rapidly within days and considered environmentally friendly. However, modelling studies showed persistence of H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; up to 1km from release sites. H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; is a known genotoxicant and this thesis investigates degradation rates and genotoxicity in sea urchins exposed to environmentally-relevant concentrations of H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;. The degradation rate of H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; was 1% per day, slower than reported in previous studies which suggested limited environmental impact due to rapid breakdown in seawater. Sea urchins were selected as bioindicator species and exposed to environmentally-relevant exposure simulations of pelagic and benthic life stages to H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;. Genotoxicological impacts were assessed in adult coelomocytes and tube feet, gametes, and embryos. The fast micromethod was used to quantify DNA strand breaks in sea urchin coelomocytes, then further developed to include simultaneous quantification of DNA strand breaks, oxidised DNA bases, and methylated cytosines. Interspecies differences in susceptibility to DNA damage were detected in coelomocytes of three Scottish species. Low concentration of H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; (500μM, 100-times dilution of sea lice treatment) induced DNA damage in coelomocytes from adult aqueous exposures after 1h, but the damage rapidly returned to control levels by 3h. Gametes (eggs and sperm) exposed to H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; did not impact gamete viability but resulted in reduced fertilisation success and elevated DNA damage in embryos, possibly through sublethal DNA damage maintained through fertilisation and unrepaired in early stages of development. This thesis provides evidence of environmentally-relevant levels of H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-induced DNA damage in multiple stages in the sea urchin life cycle. Genotoxic evidence in sea urchins calls the need for strict regulations on safe disposal of H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; and other environmental chemicals to ensure the health of benthic and pelagic ecosystems in the marine environment.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Liu, Fengjia"],"institution":"University of the Highlands and Islands","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (awarded by UHI)","degree_level":"Doctoral Thesis","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Reinardy, Helena","Last, Kim"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2023,"date_issued":"2023-11-7","date_published":"2023-11-7","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:12:10Z","subjects":[],"languages":["eng"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/73aeb017-f485-4aa0-9d84-01809e013b70"],"render_values":[{"text":"oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/73aeb017-f485-4aa0-9d84-01809e013b70","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/73aeb017-f485-4aa0-9d84-01809e013b70","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Reinardy, Helena","Last, Kim"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.sponsor","label":"Sponsor","values":["Super DTP"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Liu, Fengjia"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2023-11-7"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2023-11-7"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.department","label":"Dc Publisher Department","values":["The Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["University of the Highlands and Islands"]},{"key":"dc:relation.isreferencedby","label":"Dc Relation Isreferencedby","values":["https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/73aeb017-f485-4aa0-9d84-01809e013b70"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["Doctoral Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationname","label":"Dc Type Qualificationname","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (awarded by UHI)"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["eng"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/73aeb017-f485-4aa0-9d84-01809e013b70","https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/73aeb017-f485-4aa0-9d84-01809e013b70"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/files/54384860/Fengjia_Liu_thesis.pdf"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) is an antiparasitic treatment against sea lice in Atlantic salmon aquaculture and is released into the surrounding waters. H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> is presumed to degrade and dilute rapidly within days and considered environmentally friendly. However, modelling studies showed persistence of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> up to 1km from release sites. H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> is a known genotoxicant and this thesis investigates degradation rates and genotoxicity in sea urchins exposed to environmentally-relevant concentrations of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. The degradation rate of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> was 1% per day, slower than reported in previous studies which suggested limited environmental impact due to rapid breakdown in seawater. Sea urchins were selected as bioindicator species and exposed to environmentally-relevant exposure simulations of pelagic and benthic life stages to H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. Genotoxicological impacts were assessed in adult coelomocytes and tube feet, gametes, and embryos. The fast micromethod was used to quantify DNA strand breaks in sea urchin coelomocytes, then further developed to include simultaneous quantification of DNA strand breaks, oxidised DNA bases, and methylated cytosines. Interspecies differences in susceptibility to DNA damage were detected in coelomocytes of three Scottish species. Low concentration of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> (500μM, 100-times dilution of sea lice treatment) induced DNA damage in coelomocytes from adult aqueous exposures after 1h, but the damage rapidly returned to control levels by 3h. Gametes (eggs and sperm) exposed to H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> did not impact gamete viability but resulted in reduced fertilisation success and elevated DNA damage in embryos, possibly through sublethal DNA damage maintained through fertilisation and unrepaired in early stages of development. This thesis provides evidence of environmentally-relevant levels of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-induced DNA damage in multiple stages in the sea urchin life cycle. Genotoxic evidence in sea urchins calls the need for strict regulations on safe disposal of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and other environmental chemicals to ensure the health of benthic and pelagic ecosystems in the marine environment."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Hydrogen peroxide-induced genotoxicity and transgenerational implications in sea urchins"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Reinardy, Helena","Last, Kim"],"dc:contributor.sponsor":["Super DTP"],"dc:creator":["Liu, Fengjia"],"dc:date":["2023-11-7"],"dc:date.issued":["2023-11-7"],"dc:description.abstract":["Hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) is an antiparasitic treatment against sea lice in Atlantic salmon aquaculture and is released into the surrounding waters. H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> is presumed to degrade and dilute rapidly within days and considered environmentally friendly. However, modelling studies showed persistence of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> up to 1km from release sites. H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> is a known genotoxicant and this thesis investigates degradation rates and genotoxicity in sea urchins exposed to environmentally-relevant concentrations of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. The degradation rate of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> was 1% per day, slower than reported in previous studies which suggested limited environmental impact due to rapid breakdown in seawater. Sea urchins were selected as bioindicator species and exposed to environmentally-relevant exposure simulations of pelagic and benthic life stages to H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. Genotoxicological impacts were assessed in adult coelomocytes and tube feet, gametes, and embryos. The fast micromethod was used to quantify DNA strand breaks in sea urchin coelomocytes, then further developed to include simultaneous quantification of DNA strand breaks, oxidised DNA bases, and methylated cytosines. Interspecies differences in susceptibility to DNA damage were detected in coelomocytes of three Scottish species. Low concentration of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> (500μM, 100-times dilution of sea lice treatment) induced DNA damage in coelomocytes from adult aqueous exposures after 1h, but the damage rapidly returned to control levels by 3h. Gametes (eggs and sperm) exposed to H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> did not impact gamete viability but resulted in reduced fertilisation success and elevated DNA damage in embryos, possibly through sublethal DNA damage maintained through fertilisation and unrepaired in early stages of development. This thesis provides evidence of environmentally-relevant levels of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-induced DNA damage in multiple stages in the sea urchin life cycle. Genotoxic evidence in sea urchins calls the need for strict regulations on safe disposal of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and other environmental chemicals to ensure the health of benthic and pelagic ecosystems in the marine environment."],"dc:identifier":["oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/73aeb017-f485-4aa0-9d84-01809e013b70","https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/73aeb017-f485-4aa0-9d84-01809e013b70"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/files/54384860/Fengjia_Liu_thesis.pdf"],"dc:language":["eng"],"dc:publisher.department":["The Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute"],"dc:publisher.institution":["University of the Highlands and Islands"],"dc:relation.isreferencedby":["https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/73aeb017-f485-4aa0-9d84-01809e013b70"],"dc:title":["Hydrogen peroxide-induced genotoxicity and transgenerational implications in sea urchins"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"dc:type.qualificationlevel":["Doctoral Thesis"],"dc:type.qualificationname":["Doctor of Philosophy (awarded by UHI)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:12:10Z"}