Ecotoxicological effects of aged exterior paint particles on soil nematodes

Abstract

Despite the massive worldwide consumption of architectural paint, the ecotoxicological effects of aged exterior paint particles on terrestrial biota remain largely uncharacterized. Therefore, our study assessed the toxic effect of aged paint particles on the soil environments using the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. Paint particles from two old residential areas exerted different levels of toxicity, as indicated by a reduction in the number of offspring, depending on their size, color, and layer structure, which are highly linked with the chemical heterogeneity of paint additives. A significant contribution of the leachable additives to the paint particle toxicity was demonstrated by a serial washing of paint particles, followed by their toxicity assessment. Chemical analysis of the leachates of paint particles revealed a high correlation between abundances of alkyl amines and toxicity. Collectively, our findings provide insights into the potential hazards of aged paint particles and their additives in the terrestrial environment.