Hydraulic fracturing fluid biocide, tributyl tetradecyl phosphonium chloride, causes mitochondrial dysfunction that is enhanced by sodium chloride in Chironomus riparius

• Published in: Molecular & cellular toxicology Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 31 - 39
• Main Authors: Alali, Zainab Hussain, Bentivegna, Carolyn S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Incheon The Korean Society of Toxicogenomics and Toxicoproteomics 2019; Springer Nature B.V; 대한독성 유전단백체 학회
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell Biology; Chironomus riparius; Contamination; Freshwater ecosystems; Hydraulic fracturing; Life Sciences; Lipid peroxidation; Mitochondria; Original Paper; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Sodium chloride; Superoxide dismutase; Toxicity; 생물학; Mitochondria; Sodium chloride; Hydraulic fracturing; Tributyl tetradecyl phosphonium chloride; Red (cool) laser
• ISSN: 1738-642X; 2092-8467
• DOI: 10.1007/s13273-019-0004-1

Backgrounds
Tributyl tetradecyl phosphonium chloride (TTPC) is a biocide used in hydraulic fracturing fluid to minimize bacterial contamination.
Methods
This study used the larvae of the freshwater insect
Chironomus riparius
to investigate the toxicity of TTPC, NaCl, and TTPC+NaCl.
Results
LC
50
s (mg/L) at 24 hours for TTPC, NaCl, and TTPC+NaCl were 0.57, >10,000, and 0.32, respectively, indicating a synergistic effect for TTPC+NaCl. ATP production was significantly increased in response to TTPC alone as compared to controls, but decreased significantly when TTPC was combined with NaCl, indicating severe damage to mitochondria. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and lipid hydroperoxides (LPO) levels both increased in response to TTPC treatment, however, only LPO activity increased when TTPC was combined with NaCl. Red laser stimulation failed to enhance ATP production in response to increasing concentrations of TTPC and TTPC+NaCl.
Conclusion
Taken together, these results indicate that hydraulic fracturing fluids entering freshwater ecosystems may put macroinvertebrates at risk.