Preliminary Findings on the Bioaccumulation and Marine Trophic Transfer of the Antifouling Biocide DCOIT in Soluble and Nanostructured Forms

Abstract

DCOIT (4,5-Dichloro-2-octylisothiazol-3(2H)-one) is a widely used antifouling biocide that emerged after the ban on tributyltin. It has been immobilized in nanostructured silica (SiNC–DCOIT) to reduce its hazard in maritime coatings. This study aimed to compare the bioaccumulation, trophic transfer, and biomagnification of DCOIT in its soluble and nanostructured forms on mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis, using three different uptake routes: aqueous exposure (i.e., contaminated seawater), dietary exposure (i.e., microalgae Tetraselmis chuii as a contaminated food), and both contaminated food and seawater. DCOIT was determined on water and tissues after 1, 3, and 24 h of uptake and after 72 h of depuration. Briefly, mussels were able to rapidly uptake and metabolize DCOIT and SiNC–DCOIT. Both compounds were non-bioaccumulative, as their bioconcentration and bioaccumulation factor values were lower than 2000. However, the predator–prey biomagnification factors indicated that both forms could be transferred across the trophic web. Therefore, while our findings provide further insight into the environmental risk assessment of DCOIT and SiNC–DCOIT, they do not rule out the possibility of long-term DCOIT bioaccumulation, particularly in areas with constant DCOIT influx. Further studies are thus needed using larger experimental designs and under continuous exposure scenarios to increase the sustainability of the innovative nanomaterial.