Effect of Toothpaste-derived Fluoridation on Sea Urchin Fertilization and Development

Overview

Objectives/Goals To test the potential effects of fluoride as derived from toothpaste on the fertilization and developmental process of sea urchins. Methods/Materials Forced the release of gametes by injecting sea urchins with potassium chloride. Eggs and sperm acquired from this were mixed in solutions of seawater containing different dilutions of toothpaste. The success with which the eggs were fertilized was re recorded. Embryos were then allowed to develop overnight to observe the effects that the different concentrations of toothpaste-derived fluoride had on the developmental process of sea urchin embryos. Another trial was done to test the effects of a fluoridated environment on healthy and developing sea urchin embryos. This was done by isolating embryos into separate wells on a tissue sampling tray. Results Toothpaste demonstrated an obvious and detrimental effect on the fertilization and development of sea urchins. Embryos fertilized and developed within toothpaste solutions were either killed or unable to continue developing normally. Conclusions/Discussion Although the results of this project do not directly prove that fluoride causes the abnormal development of sea urchin embryos, toothpaste can. In all four trials conducted during this experiment, most samples subjected to unnatural concentrations of fluoride showed abnormal development.

Awards (1)

• Third Place

Competition history

• CSEF 2009 Zoology · Entry S2408

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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