Chronic low-dose exposure to chlorpyrifos reduces lifespan in a wild fish by accelerating aging
Data files
Jan 09, 2026 version files 473.10 KB
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ady4727_Code.R
63.04 KB
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ady4727_Data.xlsx
398.96 KB
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README.md
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Abstract
Low-concentration chemicals are widespread in the environment, but exploration of the effects of their chronic exposures on animal lifespan in the wild is limited. Field investigations showed that fish populations of Culter dabryi with chronic low-dose chlorpyrifos loads had shortened telomeres and truncated age structures. Laboratory experiments confirmed that chronic low-dose chlorpyrifos exposure induced telomere degradation and reduced survival in a dose- and physiological age-dependent manner, whereas acute high-dose exposure did not. Together, these studies provide evidence that chronic low-level chlorpyrifos exposure reduces lifespan and population viability in a wild fish by accelerating physiological aging. Given the pervasive nature of low concentrations of pesticides in the environment and the conserved mechanisms of aging across vertebrates, these findings raise concerns about the potential long-term risks to longevity of pesticides, even at low doses.
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.pc866t23m
The dataset (ady4727_Data.xlsx) includes 8 spreadsheets:
1.Body weight distribution data: Body weight distribution in wild C. dabryi populations across Niushan, West Liangzi, and East Liangzi Lakes from 2020 to 2023.
2.Body length distribution data: Body length distribution in wild C. dabryi populations across Niushan, West Liangzi, and East Liangzi Lakes from 2020 to 2023.
3.Age structure data: Numbers of individuals across different age classes in wild C. dabryi populations in various quarters from 2020-2023.
4.Field pesticide_aging data: Pesticide concentrations and biological aging parameters in wild C. dabryi populations across Niiushan, West Liangzi and East Liangzi Lakes from 2020 to 2023.
5.Chronic exposure data: Pesticide concentrations, relative telomere lengths and lipofuscin depositions after chronic exposure to environmental concentrations of chlorpyrifos.
6.Chronic exposure survival data: Mortality statistics of C. dabryi during chronic exposure to environmental concentrations of chlorpyrifos.
7.Acute exposure data: Pesticide concentrations and relative telomere lengths following acute high-concentration chlorpyrifos exposure.
8.Acute exposure survival data: Mortality statistics following acute high-concentration chlorpyrifos exposure in C. dabryi.
Description of the data and file structure
DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: Body weight distribution data
Number of variables: 4
Description: This data file provides the percentage distributions of C. dabryi across different body weight intervals, collected from three lakes (Niushan Lake, West Liangzi Lake, and East Liangzi Lake) between 2020 and 2023. Further details on the data and methods are provided in the corresponding manuscript and supplementary materials.
Variable list:
Weight Group: The body weight distributions of C. dabryi were categorized into consecutive 10 g intervals.
Niushan Lake: The percentage that the number of individuals within this body weight interval accounts for in the Niushan Lake C. dabryi population.
West Liangzi Lake: The percentage that the number of individuals within this body weight interval accounts for in the West Liangzi Lake C. dabryi population.
East Liangzi Lake: The percentage that the number of individuals within this body weight interval accounts for in the East Liangzi Lake C. dabryi population.
DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: Body length distribution data
Number of variables: 4
Description: This data file provides the percentage distributions of C. dabryi across different body length intervals, collected from three lakes (Niushan Lake, West Liangzi Lake, and East Liangzi Lake) between 2020 and 2023. Further details on the data and methods are provided in the corresponding manuscript and supplementary materials.
Variable list:
Length Group: The body length distributions of C. dabryi were categorized into consecutive 10 mm intervals.
Niushan Lake: The percentage that the number of individuals within this body length interval accounts for in the Niushan Lake C. dabryi population.
West Liangzi Lake: The percentage that the number of individuals within this body length interval accounts for in the West Liangzi Lake C. dabryi population.
East Liangzi Lake: The percentage that the number of individuals within this body length interval accounts for in the East Liangzi Lake C. dabryi population.
DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: Age structure data
Number of variables: 11
Description: This data file includes the numbers of C. dabryi individuals across different age classes, sampled seasonally from three lakes (Niushan Lake, West Liangzi Lake, and East Liangzi Lake) between 2020 to 2023. Further details on the data and methods are provided in the corresponding manuscript and supplementary materials.
Variable list:
Year: Years when field population surveys were conducted.
Season: Quarters of field population surveys conducted.
Site: Study areas, including Niushan Lake, West Liangzi Lake and East Liangzi Lake
Sex: M = Male; F = Female.
Age-1 count: Numbers of Age-1 Individuals.
Age-2 count: Numbers of Age-2 Individuals.
Age-3 count: Numbers of Age-3 Individuals.
Age-4 count: Numbers of Age-4 Individuals.
Age-5 count: Numbers of Age-5 Individuals.
Age-6 count: Numbers of Age-6 Individuals.
Age-7 count: Numbers of Age-7 Individuals.
DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: Field pesticide_aging data
Number of variables: 28
Description: This data file includes pesticide concentrations in C. dabryi across different seasons (2020-2023) from three lakes (Niushan Lake, West Liangzi Lake, East Liangzi Lake). It also includes lipofuscin deposition levels in 3-year-old fish and relative telomere lengths across different age groups. Further details on the data and methods are provided in the corresponding manuscript and supplementary materials.
Variable list:
Fish ID: Unique identifiers of fish.
Year: Years when field population surveys were conducted.
Season: Quarters of field population surveys conducted.
Site: Study areas, including Niushan Lake, West Liangzi Lake and East Liangzi Lake.
Tissue: Tissues used for pesticide detection and biological measurements.
Sex: M=Male; F=Female.
Age: Ages of fish used for pesticide detection and biological measurements.
RTL: Relative telomere length of C. dabryi across different age classes.
Lipofuscin Area: Lipofuscin deposition area in 3 years old fish during the 2021-2023 field investigation.
Chlorpyrifos: Chlorpyrifos concentrations in liver (ng/g).
Prometryn: Prometryn concentrations in liver (ng/g).
Difenoconazole: Difenoconazole concentrations in liver (ng/g).
Carbendazim: Carbendazim concentrations in liver (ng/g).
Dichlorvos: Dichlorvos concentrations in liver (ng/g).
Acetamiprid:concentrations in liver (ng/g).
Atrazine: Atrazine concentrations in liver (ng/g).
Chlorantraniliprole: Chlorantraniliprole concentrations in liver (ng/g).
Azoxystrobin: Azoxystrobin concentrations in liver (ng/g).
Myclobutanil: Myclobutanil concentrations in liver (ng/g).
Isofenphos-methyl: Isofenphos-methyl concentrations in liver (ng/g).
Buprofezin: Buprofezin concentrations in liver (ng/g).
Thiamethoxam: Thiamethoxam concentrations in liver (ng/g).
Avermectin: Avermectin concentrations in liver (ng/g).
Pretilachlor: Pretilachlor concentrations in liver (ng/g).
Paclobutrazol: Paclobutrazol concentrations in liver (ng/g).
Metolachlor: Metolachlor concentrations in liver (ng/g).
Kresoxim-methyl : Kresoxim-methyl concentrations in liver (ng/g).
Butachlor: Butachlor concentrations in liver (ng/g).
NA = not applicable
< MQL= Less than the Method Quantification Limit
DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: Chronic exposure data
Number of variables: 8
Description: This data file presents liver lipofuscin levels, and relative telomere lengths in age-2 and age-3 C. dabryi (from Niushan and East Liangzi Lakes) after 16-week chronic exposure to chlorpyrifos. Further details on the data and methods are provided in the corresponding manuscript and supplementary materials.
Variable list:
Group: Each concentration group included three replicate tanks (1, 2, 3) for the exposure experiment, and in each tank two fish were sampled.
Site: Sources of experimental fish used for exposure, including Niushan and East Liangzi Lakes.
Age: Ages of experimental fish used.
Exposure concentration: Three concentrations (0, 10 and 50 ng/L) were established.
Exposure Duration: The chronic exposure lasted for 16 weeks.
Tissue: Tissues used for pesticide detection and biological measurements.
RTL: Relative telomere lengths after chronic exposure.
Lipofuscin Area: Lipofuscin deposition area after chronic exposure.
ND = Not Detected
DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: Chronic exposure survival data
Number of variables: 7
Description: This data file contains mortality data for 2- and 3-year-old C. dabryi (from Niushan and East Liangzi Lakes) during a 16-week chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of chlorpyrifos. Further details on the data and methods are provided in the corresponding manuscript and supplementary materials.
Variable list:
Site: Sources of experimental fish used for exposure, including Niushan Lake and East Liangzi Lake.
Age: Ages of the experimental fish used.
Exposure Duration: The chronic exposure lasted for 16 weeks.
Total Number: Numbers of test fish per treatment group.
0 ng/l: Mortality count in control group.
10 ng/L: Mortality count in 10 ng/L group.
50 ng/L: Mortality count in 50 ng/L group.
DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: Acute exposure data
Number of variables: 8
Description: This data file includes mortality data for 2- and 3-year-old C. dabryi (from Niushan and East Liangzi Lakes) following a 96-hour acute exposure to high concentrations of chlorpyrifos. Further details on the data and methods are provided in the corresponding manuscript and supplementary materials.
Variable list:
Group: Each concentration group included three replicate tanks (1, 2, 3).
Site: Sources of experimental fish used for exposure including Niushan Lake and East Liangzi Lake.
Age: Ages of the experimental fish used.
Exposure concentration: Six exposure concentrations (0, 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600 g/L) were established for each experiment.
Exposure Duration: 96 hours.
Tissue: Tissue used for pesticide detection and biological measurements.
Tissue concentration: Liver chlorpysifos concentrations after acute exposure.
RTL: Relative telomere lengths after acute exposure.
ND = Not Detected
DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: Acute exposure survival data
Number of variables: 7
Description: This data file includes mortality data for 2- and 3-year-old C. dabryi (from Niushan and East Liangzi Lakes) following a 96-hour acute exposure to high concentrations of chlorpyrifos. Further details on the data and methods are provided in the corresponding manuscript and supplementary materials.
Variable list:
Group: Each concentration group included three replicate tanks (1, 2, 3).
Site: Sources of experimental fish used for exposure, including Niushan Lake and East Liangzi Lake.
Age: Ages of the experimental fish used.
Exposure concentration: Six exposure concentrations (0, 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600 g/L) were established for each experiment.
Exposure Duration: 96 hours.
Total Number of Fish: Numbers of fish per treatment group.
Mortality Count: Mortality count per tank after acute exposure.
Code/Software
All analyses were performed in R version 4.3.2 and the scripts are provided in the ady4727_Code.R file. This code analyzes experimental (non-simulated) data from different sheets of an Excel file using appropriate statistical models (linear, mixed-effects, and binomial GLMs) to test effects of site, time, age, and exposure. It then generates publication-ready figures showing model-based predictions with confidence intervals alongside raw data.
This repository contains the code and data to run the analyses from K Huang et al., “Chronic low-dose exposure to chlorpyrifos reduces lifespan in a wild fish by accelerating aging”. We performed a four-year field survey in three adjacent lakes with different levels of pesticide burdens, namely Niushan Lake (NSL, reference lake), West Liangzi Lake (WLL), and East Liangzi Lake (ELL), to characterize the aging phenotypes (e.g., telomere degradation, lipofuscin deposition, reduced lifespan, and truncated age structures) of C. dabryi populations. We further measured the concentrations of 96 pesticides in these fish, investigated the associations between pesticide contamination and fish aging, and identified the main causal agent. Laboratory chronic exposure experiments were conducted to confirm the chronic aging effects of pesticides observed in the field, and the possible acute exposure was ruled out.