Toxicity and genotoxicity of the quaternary ammonium compound benzalkonium chloride (BAC) using Daphnia magna and Ceriodaphnia dubia as model systems

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2016-03, Vol.210, p.34-39
• Main Authors: Lavorgna, Margherita, Russo, Chiara, D'Abrosca, Brigida, Parrella, Alfredo, Isidori, Marina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Benzalkonium chloride; Benzalkonium Compounds - toxicity; Cationic surfactants; Ceriodaphnia dubia; Cladocera; Comet Assay; Daphnia; Daphnia magna; DNA Damage; Freshwater; Genotoxicity; Mutagenicity Tests - methods; Toxicity; Toxicity Tests, Chronic - methods; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2015.11.042

The toxicity and genotoxicity of the cationic surfactant benzalkonium chloride (BAC) were studied using Daphnia magna and Ceriodaphnia dubia as model systems. Acute and chronic toxicity testing were performed according to the international standard guidelines and the genotoxicity was detected through the comet assay on cells from whole organisms in vivo exposed. Acute effects occurred at concentrations in the order of tens of μg/L in D. magna and hundreds of μg/L in C. dubia. Chronic effects were found at one order of magnitude less than short-term effects maintaining the same difference in sensitivity between D. magna and C. dubia. BAC induced relevant DNA damage, in both cladocerans; the lowest adverse effect levels were 0.4 and 4 ng/L for D. magna and C. dubia, respectively. As these effective concentrations are far lower than BAC occurrence in surface waters (units of μg/L) a concerning environmental risk cannot be excluded. The findings of this study showed that D. magna and C. dubia, could be used as model organisms to detect acute and chronic toxicity as well as genotoxicity at the whole organism level. •Benzalkonium chloride chronic effect in C. dubia was found at dozens of μg/L.•The LOAEC detected by comet assay in D. magna is in the order of hundreds of pg/L.•D. magna and C. dubia are useful model organisms to detect toxicity and genotoxicity. Benzalkonium chloride showed chronic toxicity and genotoxicity in Daphnia magna and Ceriodaphnia dubia at concentrations of environmental concern. Daphnids are useful model organisms.