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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #301691
Title: Comparison of the toxicity of the peracetic acid formulations Wofasteril(c) E400, E250 and Lspez to Daphnia magna with emphasis on the effect of hydrogen peroxide

Author
item LIU, DIBO - Leibniz Institute Of Freshwater Ecology And Inland Fisheries
item Straus, David - Dave
item PEDERSEN, LARS-FLEMMING - Danish Technical University
item MEINELT, THOMAS - Leibniz Institute Of Freshwater Ecology And Inland Fisheries

Submitted to: North American Journal of Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/13/2014
Publication Date: 2/23/2015
Citation: Liu, D., Straus, D.L., Pedersen, L., Meinelt, T. 2015. Comparison of the toxicity of the peracetic acid formulations Wofasteril(c) E400, E250 and Lspez to Daphnia magna with emphasis on the effect of hydrogen peroxide. North American Journal of Aquaculture. 77:128-135.

Interpretive Summary: Peracetic acid (PAA) is a mixture of acetic acid (concentrated vinegar) and hydrogen peroxide that is used as a disinfectant in food preparation, hospitals and aquaculture. We determined the acute toxicity of 3 commercial PAA mixtures to the water flea (Daphnia). Each mixture has different concentrations of PAA and hydrogen peroxide, so we wanted to see the effect of these different concentrations to this organism in normal culture water and in water that has extra hardness, extra salinity, or extra dissolved organic carbon (i.e., sources of decomposing plants). We even added hydrogen peroxide to one mixture to make it similar to one of the other mixtures; we saw similar acute toxicity values by doing this. The results showed the importance of hydrogen peroxide in this toxicity. This compound is being investigated to replace banned chemicals, especially in the EU where very few chemicals can be used; it is safe and effective to use on fish at a low dose, and breaks down into harmless residues.

Technical Abstract: Commercial peracetic acid (PAA) formulations are acidic mixtures of PAA, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), acetic acid (AA), H2O and stabilizers to maintain equilibrium of the concentrations. Different PAA formulations show diverse PAA/H2O2 ratios, leading to potentially different toxicities at the same concentration of PAA due to different concentrations of H2O2. To confirm any potential difference in toxicity, we performed 24-h toxicity tests using Daphnia magna (German standard: DIN 38412-11:1982-10) with the commercial PAA formulations Wofasteril (c) E400, E250 and Lspez. The tests were carried out in standard dilution water (DIN EN ISO 7346-3:1997), and with increased water hardness, salinity or dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in standard dilution water to reflect various natural conditions. The results demonstrated diverse toxicities of PAA formulations in all test waters. An additional Daphnia toxicity test in standard dilution water was performed with H2O2 added to the E400 formulation to simulate the PAA-H2O2 composition of the E250 formulation. The result was nearly identical 24-h LC50 values of the 'E400+H2O2' mixture and the E250 formulation. This indicates an additive effect of H2O2 on the toxicity of PAA formulations. To further assess the effect of H2O2, the molar ratios of (PAA+H2O2): PAA of PAA formulations under the same conditions as in the toxicity tests were determined. A negative correlation was found between the molar ratio (PAA+H2O2): PAA and the 24-h LC50 values, confirming the toxicity of PAA formulations against Daphnia is due to the combined effect of both PAA and H2O2.