Could a common tire chemical threaten fruit flies?

VIU Biology student Sarima Amadi is examining how a common tire chemical impacts fruit flies – a small but important insect in the food chain and genetic research.

The chemical 6PPD-quinone is used to protect tires from degradation. When it rains, the chemical washes off and goes into storm drains and streams. It is toxic to salmon at low levels and can result in fish kills. Sarima wants to know if it is also affecting the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. 

Sarima, an international student from Nigeria, is completing her research under the mentorship of Dr. Joslynn Affleck, a VIU Biology Professor.

She notes because of 6PPD-quinone’s toxicity to salmon, there are research studies examining its impact on other animals but there is no published research on 6PPD-quinone’s impact on fruit flies. Given that fruit flies are a vital food source in many ecosystems, Sarima saw an important gap to explore. 

“Many animals eat the fruit fly, so there could be a cascading effect if the chemical does affect the fly for the animals that eat the fruit flies,” says Sarima. “The overall impact of this research is contributing to the body of knowledge we have on the impact of this chemical. In some invertebrates, like C. elegans, the toxin has been shown to harm the intestines and reproductive system.”

For the experiment, Sarima exposed the flies to different chemical concentrations in a controlled environment. Sarima says she exposed them over five days, which is much longer than they’d be exposed outside a lab. 

“Overall, our research found that interactions between the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and 6PPDQ in the environment are unlikely to impact the gene expression and lifespan or larval-to-adult survivability of the fly,” says Sarima. “This is because evidence from our research shows that the flies have a high tolerance to 6PPDQ exposure.”

Sarima plans to pursue a career in health care after completing her degree at VIU.

“Being at VIU has been great because of the small class sizes and teachers who are always willing to help,” says Sarima. “I’m glad I came to VIU because, at a bigger university, I think I would feel like just a number rather than having a personal connection with the teachers.”