Inhibition of growth and photosynthesis of selected green microalgae as tools to evaluate toxicity of dodecylethyldimethyl-ammonium bromide

Abstract

The effect of dodecylethyldimethyl-ammonium bromide (DEAB), a quaternary ammonium, compound widely used as disinfectant, on phytoplankton of inland water systems was analysed by using an experimental model. A toxicity test was based on inhibition of photosynthesis performances (effective quantum yield from photosystem II, Phi(PSII) and O(2) production) of the phytoplanktonic species Scenedesmus intermedius and Dictiosphaerium chlorelloides (Chlorophyceae) under growing doses of DEAB. A concentration-dependent toxic response was obtained in both parameters analysed. In addition, this response was almost immediate. Consequently, the measurement of both parameters (Phi(PSII )and O(2) production) allows to assess DEAB toxicity with higher standards of precision and repeatability. We propose that this procedure could be used to detect presence of quaternary ammonium pollutants in freshwater.

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs): A review on occurrence, fate and toxicity in the environment

“…The toxicity of QACs has received considerable attention and reviews have focused on the toxicity of QACs both in wastewater treatment systems and in receiving waters (Boethling, 1984;Ying, 2006). QACs are toxic to aquatic organisms such as fish, daphnids, rotifer, algae and protozoan and a lot of microorganisms Jing et al, 2012;Kreuzinger et al, 2007;Liang et al, 2013;Nalecz-Jawecki et al, 2003;Sandbacka et al, 2000;Sanchez-Fortun et al, 2008;Zhu et al, 2010). The biocidal mechanism of QACs can differ according to their structures.…”

Ecotoxicity of disinfectant benzalkonium chloride and its mixture with antineoplastic drug 5-fluorouracil towards algaPseudokirchneriella subcapitata

“…The toxicity of QACs is primarily based on their ability to disrupt membrane integrity via interaction with membrane lipids and/or transmembrane proteins, resulting in toxic effects for the exposed organisms ( Eleftheriadis et al, 2002 ; Tischer et al, 2012 ). Ecotoxicological studies showed that QACs are highly toxic to different aquatic organisms ( Chen et al, 2014 ; Jing, Zhou & Zhuo, 2012 ; Kreuzinger et al, 2007 ; Liang, Neumann & Ritter, 2013 ; Nalecz-Jawecki & Grabinska-Sota E. Narkiewicz, 2003 ; Sanchez-Fortun et al, 2008 ; Zhu et al, 2010 ). Moreover, certain QAC has been reported to induce genotoxic effects in mammalian and plant cells ( Ferk et al, 2007 ) and in crustaceans ( Lavorgna et al, 2016 ).…”

Modification of nano-clays with ionic liquids for the removal of Cd (II) ion from aqueous phase

“…The enrichment and spread of QACs into natural environment are 1 Didodecyldimethylammonium bromide 2 Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide 3 Decyltrimethylammonium bromide 4 Octadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide 5 potentially adverse to both human and ecosystem health (Zhang et al, 2015). The release of the hazardous modifier has great concern due to their toxic effects on aquatic organisms (Qv and Jiang, 2013), such as daphnids, fish, algae, protozoan and microorganisms (Sánchez-Fortún et al, 2008;Liang et al, 2013;Chen et al, 2014), abatement efficiency of wastewater treatment plants like algae (Liang et al, 2013), reduction in bacteria susceptibility to biocide (Buffet-Bataillon et al), increases antibiotic-resistance bacteria (Tandukar et al, 2013) and nitrification activities in soils (Hajaya and Pavlostathis, 2012).…”