Applicability of OECD TG 201, 202, 203 for the aquatic toxicity testing and assessment of 2D Graphene material nanoforms to meet regulatory needs

Environmental and Health Impacts of Graphene and Other Two-Dimensional Materials: A Graphene Flagship Perspective

“…Fish embryos, at a sensitive life stage, have also been used to assess developmental effects following GBM exposure. 75 In particular, the zebrafish model bridges the gap between in vitro models and mammalian models. 124 In fact, significant embryo mortality was evidenced following exposure to distinct GOs even at low concentrations of 0.001 mg/L 125 with LC 50 values of 63 mg/L reported for other tested GO materials.…”

“…The test end point is usually immobilization (loss of ability to move within 15 s under soft agitation) or mortality. − Calculated effective concentration EC 50 values at 48 h refer to concentration levels that result in immobilization (or mortality) of 50% of daphnids at the end of the exposure period. A recent review reported acute effects after short-term exposure (48 and 72 h) of GBMs in daphnia under standardized OECD TG 202, ISO 6341 and under modified tests. Chronic assays focused on reproductive capacity of D. magna and C. dubia and involves exposure to various concentrations of the test substance over a 7- or 21-day period.…”

“…Less conventional end points are also considered, including physiological and oxidative stress parameters and sublethal end points such as heartbeat rate, feeding activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) , accumulation, oxidative stress and enzyme activities . Recent daphnid studies have included functionalized GO (0 to 50 mg/L, and some >140 mg/L) as extensively described in recent reviews with immobilization and mortality seen after 48 or 72 h of GO. GO from various suppliers exhibited EC 50 48 h values that ranged from 21 mg/L using GO (0.5–3.0 μm) to 44.3 mg/L with GO (200–300 nm) .…”

“… − According to the literature, no dose-dependent acute toxicity of GBMs in adult fish was reported . However, this must be interpreted with caution as standardized test guidelines for fish acute toxicity assessment (e.g., OECD TG 203) are not always followed …”

“…Fish embryos, at a sensitive life stage, have also been used to assess developmental effects following GBM exposure . In particular, the zebrafish model bridges the gap between in vitro models and mammalian models .…”