Elsevier

Toxicology Reports

Volume 8, 2021, Pages 880-887
Toxicology Reports

Aquatic toxicity of particulate matter emitted by five electroplating processes in two marine microalgae species

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2021.04.004Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Highlights

  • The toxicity of galvanic exhausts mostly depends on particle solubility rather than their number.

  • The emissions of the aluminum cleaning process were the most toxic for microalgae.

  • Electroplating exhaust samples caused microalgae membrane hyperpolarization.

  • Low concentrations of electroplating exhaust particles can have chronic toxicity.

  • Low concentrations can stimulate algal blooms in the environment.

Abstract

Electroplating is a widely used group of industrial processes that make a metal coating on a solid substrate. Our previous research studied the concentrations, characteristics, and chemical composition of nano- and microparticles emitted during different electroplating processes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the environmental toxicity of particulate matter obtained from five different electrochemical processes. We collected airborne particle samples formed during aluminum cleaning, aluminum etching, chemical degreasing, nonferrous metals etching, and nickel plating. The toxicity of the particles was evaluated by the standard microalgae growth rate inhibition test. Additionally, we evaluated membrane potential and cell size changes in the microalgae H. akashiwo and P. purpureum exposed to the obtained suspensions of electroplating particles. The findings of this research demonstrate that the aquatic toxicity of electroplating emissions significantly varies between different industrial processes and mostly depends on particle chemical composition and solubility rather than the number of insoluble particles. The sample from an aluminum cleaning workshop was significantly more toxic for both microalgae species compared to the other samples and demonstrated dose and time-dependent toxicity. The samples obtained during chemical degreasing and nonferrous metals etching processes induced depolarization of microalgal cell membranes, demonstrated the potential of chronic toxicity, and stimulated the growth rate of microalgae after 72 h of exposure. Moreover, the sample from a nonferrous metals etching workshop revealed hormetic dose-response toxicity in H. akashiwo, which can lead to harmful algal blooms in the environment.

Keywords

Bioassay
Fume
Galvanic
Metals
Microalgae
Particulate matter

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