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Toxic effect of commercial detergents on organisms from different trophic levels

  • Ecotoxicology in Tropical Regions
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Abstract

The toxic effects of four powder detergents: two laundry detergents (A and B), one household detergent (C), one dishwashing detergent (D), and the surfactant alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) were analyzed in this study on organisms from different trophic levels (microalgae, cladocerans, ostracods, amphipods, macrophytes, and fish). LC50 and EC50 values obtained in the toxicity bioassays varied between 0.019 and 116.9 mg L−1. The sensitivity of the organisms to the detergents was (from most sensitive to least sensitive) Ostracods > microalgae > amphipods > cladocerans > fishes > macrophytes. The toxicity of the commercial products (from most toxic to least toxic) was LAS > D (dishwashing detergent) > A (laundry detergent) > B (laundry detergent) > C (household detergent). When comparing the sensitivity of organisms that inhabit temperate zones (T = 18 °C) to those that are found in tropical zones (T > 25 °C), it was clear that the species that inhabit the tropics are more sensitive to detergents.

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  1. Laboratorio Alejandro Villalobos, Departamento de Hidrobiología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Av. San Rafael Atlixco No. 186 Colonia Vicentina, C.P. 09340, Ciudad de México, México

    A. Sobrino-Figueroa

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Sobrino-Figueroa, A. Toxic effect of commercial detergents on organisms from different trophic levels. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 13283–13291 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7861-0

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