We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Towards standard methods for the classification of aquatic toxicity for biologically active household chemicals (BAHC) present in plastics, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetic products
Summary
Researchers proposed a standardized testing method using marine invertebrate models to assess the aquatic toxicity of biologically active household chemicals found in plastics, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, including substances with very low water solubility.
A standard method to test the aquatic toxicity of biologically active household chemicals (BAHC), including those with very low water solubility, is proposed. The method uses the common marine models Paracentrotus lividus embryos and Acartia clausi larvae, in order to advance towards derivation of water quality criteria for these emerging pollutants that currently lack environmental standards. Depending on the water solubility and octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow) of the substance, the protocol consists of testing the toxicity of the substances by serial dilutions of water stocks, dimethyl-sulfoxide stocks, or 100 mg/L lixiviates in seawater. When this method is applied to eleven model BAHC, the pharmaceutical fluoxetine, the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene, and the UV filters broadly present in cosmetics octocrylene and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, are classified as very toxic to aquatic life, since their EC50 values are < 1 mg/L. In general, both biological models, P. lividus and A. clausi, yield the same classification of the substances tested, but variations in the classification of aquatic toxicity depending on methodological aspects are discussed. The use of A. clausi nauplii provides more protecting value to the toxicity parameters obtained by using this protocol.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
A protocol for lixiviation of micronized plastics for aquatic toxicity testing
Researchers developed a standardized protocol for creating plastic leachate solutions to test the toxicity of chemicals that microplastics release into water. Different types of microplastics released varying amounts of harmful additives, and the resulting leachates were toxic to marine organisms at environmentally relevant concentrations. Having a consistent testing method is important because it allows scientists to compare results across studies and better assess real-world risks.
Understanding hazardous concentrations of microplastics in fresh water using non-traditional toxicity data
Researchers developed hazard concentration thresholds for microplastics in freshwater using non-traditional toxicity data, accounting for environmentally relevant sizes, shapes, and polymer types to provide more realistic governance standards.
Mechanisms of Sorption of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products to Microplastics
This thesis investigated how pharmaceutical and personal care product chemicals sorb onto high-density polyethylene microplastic fragments, and how this affects the combined toxicity to aquatic organisms. Microplastics can carry drug compounds and personal care chemicals from wastewater into aquatic environments, concentrating pollutant exposure for marine organisms.
Microplastics as vectors of pharmaceuticals in aquatic organisms – An overview of their environmental implications
Researchers reviewed how microplastics act as "vectors" for pharmaceutical contaminants in aquatic environments, absorbing drugs onto their surfaces and then releasing them inside organisms after ingestion — potentially amplifying the toxicity of pharmaceuticals throughout the food web.
Gaps in aquatic toxicological studies of microplastics
This paper identifies key gaps in aquatic toxicological studies of microplastics, arguing that most studies use unrealistic concentrations or particle types and calling for more ecologically relevant experimental designs to better assess real-world risks.