Evaluation of risk assessment of new industrial pollutant, ionic liquids on environmental living systems.

Ionic liquids (ILs) are much known for their promising alternative for volatile solvents in industries and gained popularity as a greener solvent, however industrial effluent discharge containing ILs are also increasing. There is a scarcity of information on the toxicity of ILs; the present study will explore different facts about their harmfulness. The toxic effects of five different ILs: [CMIM]Br, [HxPC]N(CN), [CMIM]BF, [BTDA]Cl and [CMPY]Cl were analysed on bacteria, fungi, plant and animal cells. Both Gram positive and negative bacteria were found to be more susceptible to [CMIM]BF and [BTDA]Cl than [CMIM]Br, [HxPC]N(CN) and [CMPY]Cl, whereas fungi revealed quite a resistance to all ILs. All ILs were toxic towards Triticum aestivum affecting their roots and shoots, however [CMIM]BF and [BTDA]Cl were more toxic amongst them. Studies on Allium cepa described their toxic behaviour at the genetic level by altering cell division and nuclear material. Furthermore, studies on human red blood cells described by % haemolysis in which [HxPC]N(CN) and [BTDA]Cl exhibited higher toxicity at very lower concentrations. While the genotoxic effect on blood lymphocytes exerted by [HxPC]N(CN), [CMIM]BF and [BTDA]Cl confirmed their toxic effects on human cells.