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

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Labdon, Grace E. and Kelly-Laubscher, Roisin and Cunningham, Margaret R. and Davies, Nia A. and Reed, Sophie G. and Seeley, Aidan (2026) The behavioural, toxicological, and biochemical effects of caffeine on Lumbriculus variegatus. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, 123. 104975. ISSN 1382-6689 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2026.104975)

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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 ≥ 5.0 mM caffeine for 10 min or ≥ 3.0 mM for 24 h reduced stimulated behaviours, with locomotion suppressed at ≥ 5.0 mM (10 min) and ≥ 1.0 mM (24 h) (p < .05, n = 8), which persisted 24 h after exposure to 10 mM (10 min) or 3.5 mM (24 h). A 24-hour LC50 of 4.7 mM (95% CI: 4.60–4.70 mM) was observed, with significant lethality after seven days at 4.5 mM (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.

ORCID iDs

Labdon, Grace E., Kelly-Laubscher, Roisin, Cunningham, Margaret R. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6454-8671, Davies, Nia A., Reed, Sophie G. and Seeley, Aidan;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)