Toxic effects of bisphenol analogues and their mixture on two freshwater algae Chlorella vulgaris and Desmodesmus armatus

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an emerging organic compound used in the production of epoxy resin, polycarbonate plastics and thermal paper. Following the restrictions on the use of bisphenol A, many substitutes have been produced as its replacement in several consumer products. The main task of this research was to examine the toxic effects of single bisphenol analogues and their mixtures against freshwater microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and Desmodesmus armatus. The findings suggest that bisphenol B, bisphenol C, bisphenol PH (EC₅₀ (14 day): 33.32-43.32 mg L^-1) and bisphenol B, bisphenol C, bisphenol FL, bisphenol PH (EC₅₀ (14 day): 30.49-64.54 mg L^-1) show strong toxic effects towards C. vulgaris and D. armatus, respectively. In turn, the research results indicate that the toxicity of a mixture of examined bisphenol analogs on both species of green algae is much higher (EC₅₀ (14 day): 24.55-32.68 mg L^-1) than the individual toxicity of each component of the mixture. Therefore, it can be concluded that mixtures lead to the occurrence of synergistic effects. The toxicity of the individual bisphenol analogues and their mixture by EC₅₀ (14 day) values in descending order, was as follows: mixture>bisphenol PH> bisphenol B> bisphenol C> bisphenol FL> bisphenol F> bisphenol E for C. vulgaris and bisphenol B> mixture> bisphenol FL> bisphenol C> bisphenol PH> bisphenol E> bisphenol F for D. armatus, respectively. Moreover, the present research expands current knowledge of the ecotoxicological risks of bisphenol analogues to aquatic organisms.