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Title: Toxicity of aircraft de-icer and anti-icer solutions to aquatic organisms

Abstract

Laboratory studies were undertaken to assess the toxicity of industrial mixtures of aviation de-icers and anti-icers. Various additives and contaminants are present in these solutions at proportions of 10 to 20% of the total volume. Static-renewal toxicity tests were performed at concentrations that bracketed published LC50 values for the primary ingredients (9--51 ml glycol/L) using fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), Daphnia magna, Daphnia pulex, Ceriodaphnia dubia, and Photobacterium phosphoreum (Microtox{reg_sign}) bioassays. Water from a stream that receives runoff from a large commercial airport was also tested during a late winter storm (March), and spring baseflow (April). The anti-icer solution was more toxic than the de-icer solution by two orders of magnitude (96-h LC50 range 0.03-0.44 ml/L, 3.02--13.48 ml/L, respectively). Both types of solutions exhibited greater toxicity than previously reported values for the primary ingredients. Toxic effects were observed in the March stream sample, but not the April sample. Significant inhibition of reproduction in C. dubia in the anti-icer and de-icer solutions occurred at 0.05 and 0.38 ml/L, respectively. Effects were observed in the Microtox assay at concentrations of 0.125 and 0.25 ml/L for the anti-icer and de-icer, respectively. Results suggest that the additives, rather than the glycols, are the major sourcemore » of toxicity. Histological damage observed in fathead minnows primarily involved gill, kidney, and skin tissue, with the most prominent responses seen in fish exposed to the anti-icer solution. The de-icer solution elicited respiratory epithelial ``disruption`` and renal damage, and the anti-icer caused proliferative branchitis (hyperplastic response) and delamination of the epidermis from the dermis of the skin.« less

Authors:
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Annapolis, MD (United States)
Publication Date:
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
94317
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 14; Journal Issue: 8; Other Information: PBD: Aug 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, APPLIED STUDIES; GLYCOLS; TOXICITY; RUNOFF; PHOTOSYNTHETIC BACTERIA; SENSITIVITY; FATHEAD MINNOW; CRUSTACEANS; POLYETHYLENE GLYCOLS; DAPHNIA; SEASONAL VARIATIONS

Citation Formats

Hartwell, S I, Jordahl, D M, Evans, J E, and May, E B. Toxicity of aircraft de-icer and anti-icer solutions to aquatic organisms. United States: N. p., 1995. Web. doi:10.1002/etc.5620140813.
Hartwell, S I, Jordahl, D M, Evans, J E, & May, E B. Toxicity of aircraft de-icer and anti-icer solutions to aquatic organisms. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620140813
Hartwell, S I, Jordahl, D M, Evans, J E, and May, E B. 1995. "Toxicity of aircraft de-icer and anti-icer solutions to aquatic organisms". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620140813.
@article{osti_94317,
title = {Toxicity of aircraft de-icer and anti-icer solutions to aquatic organisms},
author = {Hartwell, S I and Jordahl, D M and Evans, J E and May, E B},
abstractNote = {Laboratory studies were undertaken to assess the toxicity of industrial mixtures of aviation de-icers and anti-icers. Various additives and contaminants are present in these solutions at proportions of 10 to 20% of the total volume. Static-renewal toxicity tests were performed at concentrations that bracketed published LC50 values for the primary ingredients (9--51 ml glycol/L) using fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), Daphnia magna, Daphnia pulex, Ceriodaphnia dubia, and Photobacterium phosphoreum (Microtox{reg_sign}) bioassays. Water from a stream that receives runoff from a large commercial airport was also tested during a late winter storm (March), and spring baseflow (April). The anti-icer solution was more toxic than the de-icer solution by two orders of magnitude (96-h LC50 range 0.03-0.44 ml/L, 3.02--13.48 ml/L, respectively). Both types of solutions exhibited greater toxicity than previously reported values for the primary ingredients. Toxic effects were observed in the March stream sample, but not the April sample. Significant inhibition of reproduction in C. dubia in the anti-icer and de-icer solutions occurred at 0.05 and 0.38 ml/L, respectively. Effects were observed in the Microtox assay at concentrations of 0.125 and 0.25 ml/L for the anti-icer and de-icer, respectively. Results suggest that the additives, rather than the glycols, are the major source of toxicity. Histological damage observed in fathead minnows primarily involved gill, kidney, and skin tissue, with the most prominent responses seen in fish exposed to the anti-icer solution. The de-icer solution elicited respiratory epithelial ``disruption`` and renal damage, and the anti-icer caused proliferative branchitis (hyperplastic response) and delamination of the epidermis from the dermis of the skin.},
doi = {10.1002/etc.5620140813},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/94317}, journal = {Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry},
number = 8,
volume = 14,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995},
month = {Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995}
}