Ecotoxicological approach of surfactants treated by ionizing radiation

Abstract

Removing surfactants from liquid effluents has been a fundamental issue since they are found in several industrial effluents, hospitals, restaurants, and even homes. When disposed into aquatic environmental, surfactants can implicate in significant changes, including several adverse effects to aquatic organisms. The present study was developed to assess the ecotoxicological effects of surfactants (anionic and nonionic) to aquatic organisms Vibrio fischeri bacteria, Daphnia similis crustacean. The ionizing radiation (Electron Beam Irradiation - EBI) was applied as a possible technology for the treatment of these contaminants in order to reduce acute toxic effects. The obtained data showed that the surfactants were toxic for both organisms, and the nonionic were more toxic than anionic. EB irradiation reduced surfactants toxicity by 40% acute toxic effects for nonionic surfactant and more than 70% for anionic, for both exposed organisms classes.