Chemical effects of different types of rubber-based products on early life stages of Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas

• Published in: Journal of Hazardous Materials
• Main Authors: Tallec, Kevin, Huvet, Arnaud, Yeuc’h, Valérie, Le Goïc, Nelly, Paul-Pont, Ika
• Other Authors: Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin (LEMAR) (LEMAR), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (IUEM), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2022
• Subjects: Oyster Rubber Tire Aquaculture gears Leachate Early life stages; Oyster; Rubber; Tire; Aquaculture gears; Leachate; Early life stages; [SDE]Environmental Sciences; Pacific; Crassostrea gigas; Pacific oyster
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-04302210; https://hal.science/hal-04302210/document; https://hal.science/hal-04302210/file/89806.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127883

Rubber products and debris with specific chemical signatures can release their constitutive compounds into the surrounding environment. We investigated the chemical toxicity of different types of new and used rubber products (tires, crumb rubber granulates, aquaculture rubber bands) on early life stages of a model marine organism, Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. Leachates obtained from used products were generally less toxic than those from new ones. Leachates from new products induced embryotoxicity at different concentrations: oyster-farming rubber bands (lowest observed effect concentration, LOEC = 1 g L-1) and crumb rubber granulates (LOEC = 1 g L-1) > tires (LOEC = 10 g L-1). Moreover, new oysterfarming rubber bands induced spermiotoxicity at 10 g L-1 (-29% survival) resulting in decreased oyster reproductive output (-17% fertilization yield). Targeted chemical analyses revealed some compounds (2 mineral contaminants, 15 PAHs, 2 PCBs) in leachates, which may have played a role. Rubber used in marine aquaculture (rubber bands) or present at sea as waste (tire, crumb rubber granulates) therefore release hazardous chemical molecules under realistic conditions, which may affect oyster development. Aquaculture development work is necessary to improve practices for eco-safety, as are efforts to limit the contamination of marine environments by terrestrial rubber debris.