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Abstract

The presence of sodium Lauryl sulfates (SLS) as synthetic detergents, in marine environment arises mainly from its presence in complex domestic and industrial effluents as well as its release directly from some applications (e.g., oil dispersants and pesticides). It has been reported that SLS is toxic and affects survival of aquatic animals such as fishes, microbes like yeasts and bacteria. It is also toxic to mammals like mice and humans but to a lesser extent. Many studies have shown that the direct discharge of untreated wastewater into aquatic environment containing anionic surfactants causes significant damage to the aquatic environment due to the growth of algae that consume oxygen needed for the life of aquatic organisms. These damages in the aquatic environment are caused not only by the presence of anionic surfactants (SLS), but also by their interaction with other pollutants in the aquatic environment, which increases their toxic effect on aquatic organisms. Such detergents, however, became a public nuisance because they were neither soluble nor biodegradable. The present study intended to evaluate the fate of SLS as synthetic detergents on Tripoli coastal site of Libya, and quantifying their impacts on fish (Sardine aurita) DNA mutation, compared with other species through literature review. Our results provide functional evidence for genome toxicity of fish, of the DNA mutation caused by detergents effluents. This study provides the rationale for a simple genetic test to identify the impacts of detergents on aquatic ecosystem of Libyan coastal region.