Oxidative Stress and Genotoxicity of the Ionic Liquid 1-Octyl-3-Methylimidazolium Bromide in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Ionic liquids (ILs) have a great reputation due to their negligible volatility, designability, good stability, and ability to be recycled. They are considered to be “green” solvents and have great promise in many fields. In recent years, the toxicities of ILs have garnered increasing attention as reported by a number of studies. However, previous studies have primarily focused on their lethal toxicities, and data were limited on their toxic effects at nonlethal doses. We performed a study on the toxic effects of 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([Omim]Br) on zebrafish. During a 28-day period, male and female zebrafish were separately exposed to sequential concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/L) of [Omim]Br. Fishes were sampled after 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of exposure, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase), lipid peroxidation (LPO), and DNA damage in fish livers were measured. ROS, LPO, and DNA damage were all induced by the ionic liquid, and antioxidant enzyme activities increased at the beginning and then decreased. These phenomena demonstrate that [Omim]Br can induce oxidative stress and DNA damage in zebrafish.