Release and detection of nanosized copper from a commercial antifouling paint

Abstract

a b s t r a c tOne major concern with the use of antifouling paints is the release of its biocides (mainly copper and zinc) into natural waters, where they may exhibit toxicity to non-target organisms. While many studies have quantified the release of biocides from antifouling paints, very little is known about the physicochemical state of released copper. For proper risk assessment of antifouling paints, characterization of copper released into water is necessary because the physicochemical state determines the metal's environmental fate and effects. In this study, we monitored release of different fractions of copper (dissolved, nano, and bulk) from a commercial copper-based antifouling paint. Release from painted wood and aluminum mini-bars that were submerged in natural waters was monitored for 180 days. Leachates contained both dissolved and particulate copper species. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to determine the chemical phase of particles in the leachate. The amount of copper released was strongly dependent on water salinity, painted surface, and paint drying time. The presence of nanosized Cu 2 O particles was confirmed in paint and its leachate using singleparticle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and electron microscopy. Toxicity of paint leachate to a marine phytoplankton was also evaluated.

Interactions, Transformations, and Bioavailability of Nano-Copper Exposed to Root Exudates

“…The changes in the entropy (ΔS) varied from 110.8 to 132.2 J/mol K, which are close to the ΔS values found for the reaction 2AA − + Cu 2+ ⇌ Cu(AA) 2 , which range from ∼110 to ∼130 J/mol K. 37 Furthermore, the stoichiometric values are close to 0.5 (n = 0.486, 0.472, and 0.324 for serine, proline, and leucine, respectively), which suggests that the major complex formed is Cu(AA) 2 . Notably, the stoichiometric value (n) is smaller for leucine, which may reflect leucine's larger molecular size; conformational hindrance may restrict Cu 2+ access.…”

Assessing the release of copper from nanocopper‐treated and conventional copper‐treated lumber into marine waters I: Concentrations and rates

“…This may reflect the displacement of copper associated with the copper carbonate and copper oxide originally used in the pressure‐treated lumber (Table ) by the presence of the much higher concentrations of naturally occurring cations in seawater (e.g., sodium, calcium). Salinity has been shown to be a key variable in explaining the behavior of nanocopper in aquatic systems (Adeleye et al , , Conway et al ). Hypothetically, if this mechanism does explain the elevated copper concentrations under estuarine salinities, we might also expect elevated copper concentrations in the marine salinity treatments (30‰).…”

Effects of soluble copper and copper oxide nanoparticle exposure on the immune system of mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis

“…Copper is one of the most toxic heavy metals for marine organisms that can enter marine environments in a soluble or in a nanoparticulate form through mines, sewage, agricultural run‐off, or leaching from copper‐based antifouling coatings, among other sources . The use of copper and copper‐based nanomaterials in commercial products has increased in recent years, leading to environmental concentrations in the parts per billion (ppb) range .…”