Population level effects of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in Daphnia magna exposed to pulses of triclocarban.

Abstract

Due to the rapid increase of carbon nanotubes (CNT) applications and their inevitable release into the aquatic environment, CNT may interact with and further influence the fate and transport of other pollutants such as triclocarban (TCC). TCC is a high-production-volume chemical that is widely used as an antimicrobial agent, is continually released into the aquatic environment, and is biologically active and persistent. In the present study, the population test with Daphnia magna was performed over 93 days. Different treatments were examined: (a) control, (b) solvent control, (c) 1 mg CNT/L from the beginning, (d) 1 mg CNT/L as of day 14, (e) control with a 2-day pulse of 25 µg TCC/L on day 14, 41 µg TCC/L (day 54), and 61 µg TCC/L (day 68) and (f) same pulses of TCC with co-exposure to 1 mg CNT/L. Significant changes in all three size classes were observed as a result of the long-term exposure to 1 mg CNT/L. Increasing in number of neonates, and decreasing in number of juveniles and adults were observed. Moreover, daphnids were significantly smaller when they were exposed to MWCNT. The exposure with TCC led to size-dependent mortality in Daphnia magna populations and a subsequent recovery. Lower toxicity of TCC was observed, with the presence of MWCNT in the medium. The reported effects of TCC on population level were compared to the output of an individual-based Daphnia magna population model, in order to verify the model predictions with laboratory data.