Evaluation of the effects of sodium lauryl sulfate on the health status of Danio rerio: a study on swimming performance and sociability

In recent years, the presence of Personal Care Products (PPCs) in the environment has triggered public attention because of their hazardous features in aquatic ecosystems. PPCs arrive in the ecosystem through wastewater, and their continued influx into the aquatic environment supports their pseudo-persistent behavior. One of the most used ingredients in personal care and household cleaning products is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). This study aimed to test a 30-hour acute and a 14-day sub-chronic exposure of Danio rerio to SLS, observing its main effects on swimming performance and sociability status. The doses ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 μg L⁻¹ of SLS for acute exposure and from 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, to 1.5 μg L⁻¹ of SLS for subchronic exposure. The video-trackingsoftware EthoVision XT was used to record specific swimming parameters, as well as the time spent in proximity to other zebrafish, to assess social behavior levels. The obtained data did not show many significant changes for the acute exposure compared to the 14-day period. Thus, significant differences (*p<0.05 ANOVA) were recorded for the "active movement" parameter (acute exposure) and the “acceleration” parameter (subchronic exposure). In addition, heat maps were also created to show the social alterations of zebrafish groups.