Indirect Human Health Risk Assessment of GloFish® Electric Green® (GPM2021), GloFish® Starfire Red® (RPM2022), GloFish® Sunburst Orange® (OPM2021), and GloFish® Galactic Purple® (PPM2021) Pristella Tetras (Pristella maxillaris) : Transgenic Ornamental Fishes

Abstract

An indirect human health risk assessment was conducted on four lines of genetically modified Pristellas (Pristella maxillaris) known as the GloFish® Electric Green® Pristella (GPM2021), GloFish® Starfire Red® Pristella (RPM2022), GloFish® Sunburst Orange® Pristella (OPM2021), and the GloFish® Galactic Purple® Pristella (PPM2021), that were notified under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). GPM2021, RPM2022, OPM2021, and PPM2021 are modified lines of diploid, hemizygous or homozygous, Pristellas, containing genes encoding for different fluorescent proteins. GPM2021, RPM2022, OPM2021, and PPM2021 appear green, red, orange, or purple, respectively under ambient and blue light (including sunlight). The four lines are proposed for import from the United States for use as ornamental fish in home aquaria. This risk assessment examined the potential for the four lines to cause harmful effects to humans in Canada relative to wild-type Pristella Tetras as a consequence of environmental exposure including under its intended use in home aquaria. The parental strain, P. maxillaris, has been available as a home aquarium fish since the 1950s without any reported adverse human health effects. There is no evidence to suggest a risk of adverse human health effects for the general Canadian population from use of GPM2021, RPM2022, OPM2021, or PPM2021 as ornamental aquarium fish or other identified potential uses. As such, there is no expectation that GPM2021, RPM2022, OPM2021, and PPM2021 will pose any more risks to human health than wild-type P. maxillaris.