Abstract:

Anticorrosion materials often contain chemicals such as metals, organic solvents, or corrosive substances. When these materials are applied to surfaces exposed to water, such as bridges and pipelines, there's a risk of chemicals leaching into aquatic environments, which can lead to adverse effects, depending on the concentration and nature of the chemicals involved. Current research shows that the unique properties of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) make them attractive candidates for the development of advanced anticorrosion materials; however, their effects on the toxicology of organisms found in freshwater systems remains understudied. Using brown flatworms (Dugessia dorotocephala) as a model, the relationship between NHC concentrations and planarian toxicity were investigated under various pH and temperature conditions over a 96-hour exposure. The greatest mortality in both experiments was found in the highest concentration of NHC. However, the percentage and rate of mortality differed for each pH and temperature experiment. Results indicate that higher NHC concentrations lead to increased mortality rates, with abiotic factors playing a significant role in modulating toxicity. Further research into the accumulation and distribution of NHCs in aquatic organisms is required to fully assess their environmental impact and inform the development of safer anticorrosion materials. Ultimately, this study contributes valuable insights into the complex interactions between NHCs and freshwater ecosystems, highlighting the importance of considering abiotic factors in toxicity assessments and environmental risk evaluations.