Evaluation of the risk of toxicity from organic inks in aquatic environment

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Pigments are solid materials used in the manufacture of inks. They are characterized by their size, resistance to light and resistance to chemicals and heat. However, the requirements in relation to the environment increased. Today, environmental measures aimed at reducing all types of pollution inks. It therefore appears that toxicity tests will be needed. Tête de Plume is a new company in Quebec that developed inks from natural ingredients. Such inks may be an alternative to mineral inks using hydrocarbon oil today. The evidence of non-toxicity must be made in the original formulation of inks and after natural transformation. It therefore becomes imperative to validate the product's toxicity of all compounds to the environment. In this commitment partnership, priority will be given to evaluate inks toxicity by using different species of algae when they are exposed to different compounds and concentration of inks. The investigation will be based on the use of different concentration of algae which permit minimum incubation time necessary to detect the possible inks toxicity. Unicellular algae have been chosen because it represents unicellular model very sensitive to environmental perturbations. Measuring the rate of cell division of algae will be used as a parameter of toxicity. In addition, cell viability will be measured to identify the dead cells. Assessment of growth inhibition during the test focuses on two parameters: cell density and growth rate were determined by calculation or by a graphical method of EC50, i.e. the concentration of ink that causes 50% decline in cell density or growth rate compared with control solutions. Determination of inks toxicity will be done also by evaluation of morphological changes in cells exposed to different concentration of ink and determination of the penetration and distribution in intracellular organelles. This partnership will allow the company to develop and demonstrate the degree of toxicity of different compounds that go into fabrication of its product. This will also enable the company to comply with the laws of the Canadian environment.