Eco/genotoxicity of commercial dye CI Disperse Red 1 and chlorinated byproducts.

Abstract

About 70% of dyes used in textiles industries are of type azo. These days 15% of the dye world production is discharged into the environment during its production, processing and application. Effluent that contains dyes must have their color removed in order to be in compliance with environmental regulations, but sometimes the treatment can lead to more toxic compounds. The commercial azo dye Disperse Red 1 used in this study is composed of six different dye constituents and surfactant; however the main dye of the commercial product is the Disperse Red 1 (N-Ethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-(4-nitrophenylazo) aniline; CAS number 2872-52-8). Commercial dye samples were treated with chlorine gas, in order to simulate the conditions used in effluent treatment plant. The ecotoxicity of the commercial dye and chlorinated byproduct was evaluated in acute tests with Ceriodaphnia dubia, Ceriodaphnia silvestrii, Daphnia similis, Daphnia magna, and Hydra attenuata as well as in chronic toxicity tests with Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Ceriodapnhia dubia and Hydra attenuata. Mutagenicity was evaluated using Salmonella/microsome assay with TA98, TA100 and YG1041 strains.