Effect of triclosan and its photolysis products on marine bacterium V. fischeri and freshwater alga R. subcapitata

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 211; pp. 218 - 224
• Main Authors: Gorenoglu, Eren, Aydin, Egemen, Topuz, Emel, Pehlivanoglu-Mantas, Elif
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2018
• Subjects: Ecotoxicity; Fate; Freshwater algae; LC-MS/MS; Marine bacteria; Photodegradation; Photodegradation; LC-MS/MS; Fate; Ecotoxicity; Freshwater algae; Marine bacteria
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.01.056

The use of antibacterial agents in consumer products may lead to adverse effects in waters receiving treated wastewater. Triclosan is one of the antibacterial agents used widely in the world and its high usage leads to relatively high concentrations in wastewater effluents. In this study, the probable effect of triclosan in receiving waters was assessed using different organisms. The EC50 values were 668 ± 80 μg/L and 7.8 ± 0.1 μg/L, for Vibrio fischeri and Raphidocelis subcapitata, respectively, indicating the higher sensitivity of the alga. The toxicity of triclosan upon exposure to UV light decreased for both species, as suggested by the increase in EC50 values (1300 ± 50 μg/L and 8.7 ± 0.6 μg/L for V. fischeri and R. subcapitata, respectively). The effect of photolysis on toxicity reduction was higher for V. fischeri and the EC50 values were similar for direct and indirect photolysis. LC-MS/MS analysis of samples with and without UV exposure suggested a decrease in triclosan concentration as well as formation of photolysis byproducts upon photolysis. [Display omitted] •Toxic effects of triclosan and photolysis products on two species are evaluated.•Freshwater algae P. Subcapitata is more sensitive to triclosan than marine bacteria V. Fischeri.•Both direct and indirect photolysis decreases the toxicity to bacteria but not to algae.•Formation of photolysis byproducts suggested through coupling with LC-MS/MS measurements.