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Acute aquatic toxicity of arsenic-based chemical warfare agents to Daphnia magna
Czub, M.; Nawala, J.; Popiel, S.; Brzeziński, T.; Maszczyk, P.; Sanderson, H.; Maser, E.; Gordon, D.; Dziedzic, D.; Dawidziuk, B.; Pijanowska, J.; Fabisiak, J.; Szubska, M.; Lang, T.; Vanninen, P.; Niemikoski, H.; Missiaen, T.; Lehtonen, K.K.; Beldowski, J.; Kotwicki, L. (2021). Acute aquatic toxicity of arsenic-based chemical warfare agents to Daphnia magna. Aquat. Toxicol. 230: 105693. https://hdl.handle.net/10.1016/j.aquatox.2020.105693
In: Aquatic Toxicology. Elsevier Science: Tokyo; New York; London; Amsterdam. ISSN 0166-445X; e-ISSN 1879-1514
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open access 361349 [ download pdf ]
Author keywords
    Chemical warfare agents; Aquatic toxicity; Organoarsenicals; Sea-dumped chemical munitions; PDCA; Lewisite; Clark I; Adamsite; TPA
Authors  Top 
  • Czub, M.
  • Nawala, J.
  • Popiel, S.
  • Brzezinski, T.
  • Maszczyk, P.
  • Sanderson, H.
  • Maser, E.
  • Gordon, D.
  • Dziedzic, D.
  • Dawidziuk, B.
  • Pijanowska, J.
  • Fabisiak, J.
  • Szubska, M.
  • Lang, T.
  • Vanninen, P.
  • Niemikoski, H.
  • Missiaen, T.
  • Lehtonen, K.K.
  • Beldowski, J.
  • Kotwicki, L.
Abstract

    Sea dumping of chemical warfare (CW) took place worldwide during the 20th century. Submerged CW included metal bombs and casings that have been exposed for 50–100 years of corrosion and are now known to be leaking. Therefore, the arsenic-based chemical warfare agents (CWAs), pose a potential threat to the marine ecosystems. The aim of this research was to support a need for real-data measurements for accurate risk assessments and categorization of threats originating from submerged CWAs. This has been achieved by providing a broad insight into arsenic-based CWAs acute toxicity in aquatic ecosystems.

    Standard tests were performed to provide a solid foundation for acute aquatic toxicity threshold estimations of CWA: Lewisite, Adamsite, Clark I, phenyldichloroarsine (PDCA), CWA-related compounds: TPA, arsenic trichloride and four arsenic-based CWA degradation products.

    Despite their low solubility, during the 48 h exposure, all CWA caused highly negative effects on Daphnia magna. PDCA was very toxic with 48 h D. magna LC50 at 0.36 μg × L−1 and Lewisite with EC50 at 3.2 μg × L−1. Concentrations at which no immobilization effects were observed were slightly above the analytical Limits of Detection (LOD) and Quantification (LOQ). More water-soluble CWA degradation products showed no effects at concentrations up to 100 mg × L−1.

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