TOXIC EFFECTS OF ANTIFOULING PAINT PARTICLES (APPs) ON THE SURVIVAL OF ARTEMIA FRANCISCANA

Resumo

INTRODUCTION: During vessel maintenance, removal of old coatings generates antifouling paint particles (APPs), which reach aquatic environments and act as long-term sources of contamination. Modern antifouling paints may contain up to four combined organic or organometallic co-biocides to enhance toxicity of metals. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the toxicity of APPs from Supermarine AF Ionex paint (Renner®) through an acute toxicity test with Artemia franciscana. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Artemia cysts were hatched in artificial seawater (ASW – 35 PSU), under aeration and continuous light (25 W). Nauplii at 72 h post-hatching were used in the assays. The APPs, obtained by scraping the hull of a Renner®-painted vessel at a shipyard in Rio Grande, were sieved (1 mm) and stored at 4 °C. The concentrations tested (0, 2, 6, and 18 mg/L) were prepared in ASW in 50 mL Falcon tubes, maintained at 25 °C, in the dark, on an orbital shaker (110 rpm) for 24 h. Each treatment had 5 replicates with 15 nauplii. Mortality was the observed endpoint, considering individuals as dead when showing no movement after stimulation. Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism 8.4. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Mortality in the control group was 15 ± 6.67%. At concentrations of 2, 6, and 18 mg/L, mortality rates were 66.3 ± 38.91%, 100 ± 0%, and 100 ± 0%, respectively, with an estimated LC50 of 0.406 mg/L. This effect is associated with the APP composition, which contains the co-biocides DCOIT, Diuron, Irgarol, and TCMTB — all proven to be toxic to the oyster Crassostrea gigas. Additionally, the particles present high concentrations of copper and zinc, metals also known to affect survival of the mysid Neomysis integer. The presence of these contaminants in Renner® APPs, whose toxicity has been confirmed for Hyalella azteca and Monokalliapseudes schubarti, supports the results of this study, highlighting their toxic effects on Artemia franciscana.