Toxicity evaluation of personal care and household products as silent killers on the survival of Daphnia magna

Abstract

Daphnia magna (D. magna) is highly sensitive to pollutants and act as a model bioindicator organism in ecotoxicology. Taking this added-value of D. magna, herein, we tested acute toxicity in the crustacean against a range of domestic products that are subsequently drained into the water streams. Sequentially, the sensitivity of the organisms towards tested products was found in the order of (from most toxic to least toxic) toilet cleaner = glassware washing liquid > detergent > liquid hand wash > shampoo > raw mustard oil > cooked mustard oil > refined oil > diatomaceous earth. We calculated LC0, LC50, and LC99 values for toxicity bioassays against detergent, liquid hand wash and shampoo for ten days. The result showed that 100% females’ mortality was achieved in detergent at a concentration of 4g/l and hand washing sanitizer at 4.35 g/l in 6 days, respectively. On the other hand, 50% and 17% mortality were observed in shampoo (2.5 and 3.5 g/l) and control (4.35g/l) in 8 days each, respectively. The result has shown the dose-dependent toxicity of various household products on D. magna.

Keywords

• Toxicity
• Aquatic pollution
• Bioindicator
• Daphnia magna
• Domestic products