Abstract
In the present research work, a comprehensive tool for cumulative ecotoxicological impact assessment of ionic liquids (ILs) to aquatic life has been constructed. Using the probabilistic tool, impact of individual ILs to a group of aquatic species is assessed by chemical toxicity distributions (CTDs). The impact of group of ILs to individual aquatic species is assessed by species sensitivity distributions (SSDs). Acute toxicity data of imidazolium ILs with chloride (Cl−), bromide (Br−), tetrafluoroborate (BF4−), and hexafluorophosphate (PF6−) anions are used in CTD and SSD. Allowable concentrations for a group of Imidazolium ILs with the same mode of action (SMOA) to five aquatic species; Daphnia magna, Vibrio fischeri, Algae, Zebrafish, and Escherichia coli are estimated by CTDs. It has been concluded that 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCl) possess the lowest risk at an acceptable risk value of 750 × 10−5 mmol/L which is 12% less than that of OMIMCl. Furthermore, the sensitivities towards the aquatic species reveal that from the studied ILs, BMIMBF4 with an acceptable risk value of 3200 × 10−5 mmol/L is the most suitable IL towards the selected aquatic species. Hence, current work provides cumulative allowable concentrations and acceptable risk values for ILs which release to aquatic compartment of ecosystem.
[Display omitted]
•A cumulative impact assessment tool (CIAHILs) for ILs towards selected aquatic species is developed.•Integrated Assessment of single and group of species affected by individual and group of ILs is done.•The probabilistic tool is aided by chemical toxicity distributions and species sensitivity distributions.•CTD and SSD methods could overcome the limitation of unavailability of industrial release information of ILs.•Acceptable risk values for ILs havin zero exposure information are achieved.