Machine learning assessment of dose-dependent toxicity of DEHP on kinematic parameters in Drosophila larvae

Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a widely used plasticizer, and many organisms encounter varying degrees of exposure in their natural environment. This study aimed to assess the impact of DEHP on Drosophila larvae by analyzing their behavior through kinematic parameters. We exposed the larvae to different concentrations of DEHP (0, 0.01%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1% (v/v)), and their locomotor activity was observed, recorded, and the kinematic parameters were evaluated by machine learning method. The results indicated that the instantaneous velocity of larvae exposed to DEHP concentrations of 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% significantly decreased, particularly in the 1% concentration group, where the instantaneous velocity dropped by 20.3%. Regarding instantaneous angular velocity, lower concentrations of DEHP resulted in an increase in instantaneous angular velocity; however, at a concentration of 1%, the instantaneous angular velocity significantly decreased by 22% compared to the control group. The results contribute to our understanding of the potential ecological and health risks posed to Insects and other organisms exposed to DEHP.