The behavioural, toxicological, and biochemical effects of caffeine on Lumbriculus variegatus

Grace E Labdon; Roisin Kelly-Laubscher; Margaret R Cunningham; Nia A Davies; Sophie G Reed; Aidan Seeley

doi:10.1016/j.etap.2026.104975

The behavioural, toxicological, and biochemical effects of caffeine on Lumbriculus variegatus

Grace E Labdon
, Roisin Kelly-Laubscher
, Margaret R Cunningham
, Nia A Davies
, Sophie G Reed
, Aidan Seeley

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Caffeine is an emerging contaminant of concern frequently detected in freshwater systems, yet the behavioural, toxicological and biochemical effects of caffeine in aquatic invertebrates remain poorly characterised. Here, we investigate the effects of caffeine exposure on survival, behaviour, locomotion, and energy stores in the freshwater annelid Lumbriculus variegatus. Exposure to ≥5.0mM caffeine for 10minutes or ≥3.0mM for 24hours reduced stimulated behaviours, with locomotion suppressed at ≥5.0mM (10minutes) and ≥1.0mM (24hours) (p <.05, n = 8), which persisted 24hours after exposure to 10mM (10minutes) or 3.5mM (24hours). A 24-hour LC50 of 4.7mM (95% CI: 4.60-4.70mM) was observed, with significant lethality after seven days at 4.5mM (p <.0001). These findings provide the first characterisation of caffeine's effects in L. variegatus and inform environmental risk assessment of caffeine in freshwater systems.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	104975
Journal	Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2026.104975
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 24 Feb 2026

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10.1016/j.etap.2026.104975

ETAP Author Accepted ManuscriptAccepted author manuscript, 1.95 MBLicence: CC BY

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title = "The behavioural, toxicological, and biochemical effects of caffeine on Lumbriculus variegatus",

abstract = "Caffeine is an emerging contaminant of concern frequently detected in freshwater systems, yet the behavioural, toxicological and biochemical effects of caffeine in aquatic invertebrates remain poorly characterised. Here, we investigate the effects of caffeine exposure on survival, behaviour, locomotion, and energy stores in the freshwater annelid Lumbriculus variegatus. Exposure to ≥5.0mM caffeine for 10minutes or ≥3.0mM for 24hours reduced stimulated behaviours, with locomotion suppressed at ≥5.0mM (10minutes) and ≥1.0mM (24hours) (p <.05, n = 8), which persisted 24hours after exposure to 10mM (10minutes) or 3.5mM (24hours). A 24-hour LC50 of 4.7mM (95\% CI: 4.60-4.70mM) was observed, with significant lethality after seven days at 4.5mM (p <.0001). These findings provide the first characterisation of caffeine's effects in L. variegatus and inform environmental risk assessment of caffeine in freshwater systems.",

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T1 - The behavioural, toxicological, and biochemical effects of caffeine on Lumbriculus variegatus

AU - Labdon, Grace E

AU - Kelly-Laubscher, Roisin

AU - Cunningham, Margaret R

AU - Davies, Nia A

AU - Reed, Sophie G

AU - Seeley, Aidan

PY - 2026/2/24

Y1 - 2026/2/24

N2 - Caffeine is an emerging contaminant of concern frequently detected in freshwater systems, yet the behavioural, toxicological and biochemical effects of caffeine in aquatic invertebrates remain poorly characterised. Here, we investigate the effects of caffeine exposure on survival, behaviour, locomotion, and energy stores in the freshwater annelid Lumbriculus variegatus. Exposure to ≥5.0mM caffeine for 10minutes or ≥3.0mM for 24hours reduced stimulated behaviours, with locomotion suppressed at ≥5.0mM (10minutes) and ≥1.0mM (24hours) (p <.05, n = 8), which persisted 24hours after exposure to 10mM (10minutes) or 3.5mM (24hours). A 24-hour LC50 of 4.7mM (95% CI: 4.60-4.70mM) was observed, with significant lethality after seven days at 4.5mM (p <.0001). These findings provide the first characterisation of caffeine's effects in L. variegatus and inform environmental risk assessment of caffeine in freshwater systems.

AB - Caffeine is an emerging contaminant of concern frequently detected in freshwater systems, yet the behavioural, toxicological and biochemical effects of caffeine in aquatic invertebrates remain poorly characterised. Here, we investigate the effects of caffeine exposure on survival, behaviour, locomotion, and energy stores in the freshwater annelid Lumbriculus variegatus. Exposure to ≥5.0mM caffeine for 10minutes or ≥3.0mM for 24hours reduced stimulated behaviours, with locomotion suppressed at ≥5.0mM (10minutes) and ≥1.0mM (24hours) (p <.05, n = 8), which persisted 24hours after exposure to 10mM (10minutes) or 3.5mM (24hours). A 24-hour LC50 of 4.7mM (95% CI: 4.60-4.70mM) was observed, with significant lethality after seven days at 4.5mM (p <.0001). These findings provide the first characterisation of caffeine's effects in L. variegatus and inform environmental risk assessment of caffeine in freshwater systems.

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DO - 10.1016/j.etap.2026.104975

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SP - 104975

JO - Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology

JF - Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology

ER -

The behavioural, toxicological, and biochemical effects of caffeine on Lumbriculus variegatus

Abstract

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