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Ionic liquids (ILs) are called "green" solvents, which are due to their unique physicochemical properties and potential applications in various areas. However, the toxicity of ILs has attracted increasing attention from scientific researchers. The present paper studied the toxic effects of 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C8mim]PF6) on wheat seedlings at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 mg l(-1) on days 7, 10 and 13. The present results showed that the growth of wheat seedlings was seriously inhibited when the concentration was higher than 2 mg l(-1) and the inhibitory effect enhanced with increasing concentration and time. The EC50 values for germination, shoot length, root length and dry weight were 11.104, 5.187, 4.380 and 6.292 mg l(-1), respectively. [C8mim]PF6 could cause an increase in the production of ROS, which led to the oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, these toxic effects on wheat seedlings were irreversible.

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Imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid insecticide that can have negative effects on nontarget animals. The present study was conducted to assess the toxicity of various imidacloprid doses (0.3, 1.25, and 5 mg/mL) on zebrafish sampled after 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of exposure. The levels of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and malondialdehyde (MDA) and the extent of DNA damage were measured to evaluate the toxicity of imidacloprid on zebrafish. SOD and GST activities were noticeably increased during early exposure but were inhibited toward the end of the exposure period. In addition, the CAT levels decreased to the control level following their elevation during early exposure. High concentrations of imidacloprid (1.25 and 5 mg/L) induced excessive ROS production and markedly increased MDA content on the 21st day of exposure. DNA damage was dose- and time-dependent. In conclusion, the present study showed that imidacloprid can induce oxidative stress and DNA damage in zebrafish.