OpenTox Virtual Conference 2021 Session 8

Toxicity responses of daphniids exposed to butyl methyl imidazolium ionic liquids  Anna Michalaki, Dimitrios Kakavas, Maria Giannouli, Konstantinos Grintzalis 

Dublin City University, School of Biotechnology 

Funding Body: Science Foundation Ireland  

Ionic liquids are a type of “green solvent” developed with the intention of replacing some of the more unsavory volatile organic compounds used as solvents in the industry because of the number of hazards the latter pose to organisms and the environment. Ionic liquids are a class of salt-like materials, composed entirely of ions, which are typically bulky organic, asymmetric cations, and small, inorganic anions. In this study, we focused on the butyl methyl imidazolium-based ionic liquids and compared the toxicity and biochemical responses of a freshwater organism. Daphniids were exposed to five different butyl methyl imidazolium ionic liquids (based on their anion) for 24 hours or 21 days. Biochemical markers were assessed to identify the underlying responses to different ionic liquids. Although all ionic liquids had similar levels regarding their toxicity potential, distinct differences were observed in both acute and chronic exposures based on the biochemical responses triggered. Activities of key enzymes related to phosphorus (phosphatases), sugars (galactosidase), and catabolism of proteins and lipids (peptidases,  lipases), and enzymes related to detoxification of xenobiotics (glutathione-S-transferase) were assessed as markers of physiology. Further investigation of the metabolic level is expected to reveal distinct patterns regarding the underlying toxicity mechanisms.