Photodegradation of benzisothiazolinone: Identification and biological activity of degradation products

From skin sensitizers to wastewater: the unknown photo-deactivation process of low-lying excited states of isothiazolinones. A non-adiabatic dynamics investigation

Isothiazolinones represent a class of heterocyclic compounds widely used in various applications, including as biocides in cosmetics, detergents, and paints, as well as in industrial wastewater treatment. Indeed, the presence of isothiazolinones in the environment and their associated potential health hazards have raised significant concerns. In this study, a non-adiabatic dynamics investigation was conducted using state-of-the-art methodologies to explore the photochemistry of isothiazolinones. A simplified model, isothiazol-3(2H)-one (ISO), was employed to represent this compound class. The study validated the model and demonstrated that ISO can return to its ground state through the cleavage of the S-N or S-C bonds, with no significant energy barrier observed. Non-adiabatic dynamics simulations provided insights into the time scales and detailed processes of isothiazolinone photodissociation. The preferred route for deactivation was found to be the cleavage of the S-N bond. This research enhances our understanding of the photodeactivation processes of isothiazolinones and their potential environmental impact.

Ecotoxicological Evaluation of Safener and Antimicrobial Additives in Isoxaflutole-Based Herbicide Formulations

The environmental load by isoxaflutole and its formulated herbicide products has increasingly become apparent because, after the ban of atrazine, isoxaflutole has become its replacement active ingredient (a.i.). Obtaining information regarding the fate of this a.i. in environmental matrices and its ecotoxicological effects on aquatic organisms is essential for the risk assessment of the herbicide. In this study, the effects of Merlin Flexx- and Merlin WG75 formulated isoxaflutole-based herbicide products and two selected additives (cyprosulfamide safener and 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one antimicrobial agent) were investigated on Raphidocelis subcapitata in growth inhibition assays. In ecotoxicological tests, two conventional (optical density and chlorophyll-a content) and two induced fluorescence-based (Fv*/Fp: efficiency of the photosystem PSII and Rfd* changes in the observed ratio of fluorescence decrease) endpoints were determined by UV-spectrophotometer and by our FluoroMeter Module, respectively. Furthermore, dissipation of isoxaflutole alone and in its formulated products was examined by an HPLC-UV method. In ecotoxicological assays, the fluorescence-based Rfd* was observed as the most sensitive endpoint. In this study, the effects of the safener cyprosulfamide and the antimicrobial agent 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one on R. subcapitata is firstly reported. The results indicated that the isoxaflutole-equivalent toxicity of the mixture of the isoxaflutole-safener-antimicrobial agent triggered lower toxicity (EC50 = 2.81 ± 0.22 mg/L) compared to the individual effect of the a.i. (EC50 = 0.02 ± 0.00 mg/L). The Merlin Flexx formulation (EC50 = 27.04 ± 1.41 mg/L) was found to be approximately 50-fold less toxic than Merlin WG75, which can be explained by the different chemical characteristics and quantity of additives in them. The additives influenced the dissipation of the a.i. in Z8 medium, as the DT50 value decreased by approximately 1.2- and 3.5-fold under light and dark conditions, respectively.

Eluates from façades at the beginning of their service time affect aquatic and sediment organisms

Biocides are used in building materials to prevent microbial growth during storage (in-can preservatives) as well as after application (film preservatives). These compounds can leach out from the material into the environment and harm non-target organisms. In this study, the ecotoxicological effect of leachates at the beginning of a façade lifetime, on sediment and aquatic organisms was examined. For this purpose, leaching tests were carried out in the setting of a natural weathering experiment and a laboratory immersion with façade samples consisting of render/paint systems. The leaching experiments were performed with three different formulations, namely no biocides containing control, a formulation containing only in-can preservatives (benzisothiazolinone (BIT), methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT), and methylisothiazolinone (MIT)), and, as is common in organic building materials, containing both in-can and film preservatives (octylisothiazolinone (OIT) and terbutryn (TB)). In order to elucidate the effects of in-can and film preservative-containing eluates the toxicity of the generated leachables was evaluated on the model of several aquatic and sediment organisms, namely luminescent bacteria (Vibrio fischeri), green algae (Scenedesmus subspicatus), Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002 (umu-test), fish-egg (Danio rerio), Chironomus riparius, and Lumbriculus variegatus. It was demonstrated that in-can preservatives leach out rapidly at the beginning of a façade lifetime and despite the short half-life of these compounds in aqueous solutions, they could be detected at high concentrations in the eluates. Furthermore, eluates from early sampling times, predominantly containing in-can preservatives, were found to cause toxic effects on sediment and aquatic organisms. The results demonstrate that in-can preservatives can impose a significant stress factor on the environment.

pH-responsive bentonite nanoclay carriers control the release of benzothiazolinone to restrain bacterial wilt disease

Ralstonia solanacearum (R. solanacearum) is one of the most devastating pathogens in terms of losses in agricultural production. Bentonite (Bent) is a promising synergistic agent used in development of effective and environmentally friendly pesticides against plant disease. However, the synergistic mechanism of Bent nanoclays with benzothiazolinone (BIT) against R. solanacearum is unknown. In this work, acid-functionalized porous Bent and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) were employed as the core nanoclays, and BIT was loaded into the clay to form BIT-loaded CT-Bent (BIT@CT-Bent) for the control of bacterial wilt disease. BIT@CT-Bent exhibited pH-responsive release behavior that fit the Fickian diffusion model, rapidly releasing BIT in an acidic environment (pH = 5.5). The antibacterial effect of BIT@CT-Bent was approximately 4 times greater than that of the commercial product BIT, and its biotoxicity was much lower than that of BIT under the same conditions. Interestingly, R. solanacearum attracted BIT@CT-Bent into the nanocomposites and induced cytoplasmic leakage and changes in membrane permeability, indicating an efficient and synergistic bactericidal effect that rapidly reduced bacterial density. In addition, BIT@CT-Bent significantly inhibited R. solanacearum biofilm formation and swimming activity, by suppressing the expression of phcA, solR and vsrC. Indeed, exogenous application of BIT@CT-Bent significantly suppressed the virulence of R. solanacearum on tobacco plants, with control effect of 75.48%, 72.08% and 66.08% at 9, 11 and 13 days after inoculation, respectively. This study highlights the potential of using BIT@CT-Bent as an effective, eco-friendly bactericide to control bacterial wilt diseases and for the development of sustainable crop protection strategies.

Hyphenation of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) with separation methods: The art of compromises and the possible - A review

This review provides an overview of the online hyphenation of Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) with separation methods to date. The online coupling between separation techniques (gas and liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis) and FT-ICR MS essentially raises questions of compromise and is not look as straightforward as hyphenation with other analyzers (QTOF-MS for instance). FT-ICR MS requires time to reach its highest resolving power and accuracy in mass measurement capabilities whereas chromatographic and electrophoretic peaks are transient. In many applications, the strengths and the weaknesses of each technique are balanced by their hyphenation. Untargeted "Omics" (e.g. proteomics, metabolomics, petroleomics, …) is one of the main areas of application for FT-ICR MS hyphenated to online separation techniques because of the complexity of the sample. FT-ICR MS achieves the required high mass measurement accuracy to determine accurate molecular formulae and resolution for isobar distinction. Meanwhile separation techniques highlight isomers and reduce the ion suppression effects extending the dynamic range. Even if the implementation of FT-ICR MS hyphenated with online separation methods is a little trickier (the art of compromise), this review shows that it provides unparalleled results to the scientific community (the art of the possible), along with raising the issue of its future in the field with the relentless technological progress.

Equilibria of semi-volatile isothiazolinones between air and glass surfaces measured by gas chromatography and Raman spectroscopy

Trace amounts of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) of the two isothiazolinones of 2-methylisothiazol-3(2H)-one (MIT) and 2-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (OIT) were detected both in the air and on glass surfaces. Equilibria of SVOCs between air and glass were examined by solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS). Surface to air distribution ratios of K_sa for MIT and OIT were determined to be 5.10 m and 281.74 m, respectively, suggesting more abundant MIT in the gas phase by a factor of ∼55. In addition, a facile method of silver nanocube (AgNC)-assisted surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been developed for the rapid and sensitive detection of MIT and OIT on glass surfaces. According to MIT and OIT concentration-correlated SERS intensities of Raman peaks at ∼1585 cm^-1 and ∼1125 cm^-1, respectively. Their calibration curves have been obtained in the concentration ranges between 10^-3 to 10^-10 M and 10^-3 to 10^-11 M with their linearity of 0.9986 and 0.9989 for MIT and OIT, respectively. The limits of detection (LODs) of the two isothiazolinones were estimated at 10^-10 M, and 10^-11 M for MIT and OIT, respectively. Our results indicate that AgNC-assisted SERS spectra are a rapid and high-ultrasensitive method for the quantification of MIT and OIT in practical applications. The development of analytical methods and determination of the Ksa value obtained in this study can be applied to the prediction of the exposure to MIT and OIT from various chemical products and dynamic behaviors to assess human health risks in indoor environments.

Analytical Method Development of Benzisothiazolinone, a Biocide, Using LC-MS/MS and a Pharmacokinetic Application in Rat Biological Matrices

Benzisothiazolinone (BIT), a biocide widely used as a preservative in household cleaning and personal care products, is cytotoxic to lung cells and a known skin allergen in humans, which highlights the importance of assessing its toxicity and pharmacokinetics. In this study, a simple, sensitive, and accurate LC−MS/MS method for the quantification of BIT in rat plasma, urine, or tissue homogenates (50 μL) using phenacetin as an internal standard was developed and validated. Samples were extracted with ethyl acetate and separated using a Kinetex phenyl−hexyl column (100 × 2.1 mm, 2.6 μm) with isocratic 0.1% formic acid in methanol and distilled water over a run time of 6 min. Positive electrospray ionization with multiple reaction monitoring transitions of m/z 152.2 > 134.1 for BIT and 180.2 > 110.1 for phenacetin was used for quantification. This assay achieved good linearity in the calibration ranges of 2−2000 ng/mL (plasma and urine) and 10−1000 ng/mL (tissue homogenates), with r ≥ 0.9929. All validation parameters met the acceptance criteria. BIT pharmacokinetics was evaluated via an intravenous and dermal application. This is the first study that evaluated BIT pharmacokinetics in rats, providing insights into the relationship between BIT exposure and toxicity and a basis for future risk assessment studies in humans.

Disposition of Aerosols of Isothiazolinone-Biocides: BIT, MIT and OIT

Biocides are widely used in everyday life, and accordingly, human exposure to them is inevitable. Especially, the inhalational exposure of humans to biocides and resultant respiratory toxicity are gaining public interest due to the recent catastrophe associated with humidifier disinfectants. Aerosolized chemicals are subject to gravitational deposition and chemical degradation. Therefore, the characterization of the disposition of aerosols is essential to estimate the inhalational exposure to biocides. Here, we compared the disposition of aerosols of one of the commonly used biocide classes, isothiazolinone-based biocides, BIT, MIT, and OIT. An acrylic chamber (40 cm × 40 cm × 50 cm) was created to simulate the indoor environment, and a vacuum pump was used to create airflow (1 LPM). Biocides were sprayed from a vertical nebulizer placed on the ceiling of the chamber, and the distribution of particle sizes and volume was measured using the Optical Particle Sizer (OPS) 3330 device. During and after the aerosol spraying, airborne biocides and those deposited on the surface of the chamber were sampled to measure the deposition using LC-MS/MS. As a result, the broad particle size distribution was observed ranging from 0.3 to 8 μm during the nebulization. The inhalable particle faction (>2 μm) of the isothiazolinones was 32−67.9% in number but 1.2 to 6.4% in volume. Most of the aerosolized biocides were deposited on the chamber’s surface while only a minimal portion was airborne (<1%) after the nebulization. More importantly, significant amounts of MIT and OIT were degraded during aerosolization, resulting in poor total recovery compared to BIT (31%, 71% vs. 97% BIT). This result suggests that some isothiazolinones may become unstable during nebulization, affecting their disposition and human exposure significantly.

Insights of microbial community evolution under benzisothiazolinone exposure in different soil environments

Benzisothiazolinones (1, 2-benzisothiazoline-3-one; BIT) is widely used to control bacterial and fungal diseases of various crops, and their residues in soil may play an important role in the interaction between soil microorganisms. We studied microbial remediation in five representative soils under different soil conditions (unsterilized, sterilized and flooded) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to investigate the effect of microorganisms on the degradation of BIT residues in soils to minimize the potentially toxic effects of BIT. High-throughput sequencing data showed that the structure and abundance of bacterial communities in BIT soils changed greatly, which might affect their degradation pathways, while Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) results showed that there was no significant difference in the fungal community in different treatments of the five soils, but the degradation rate of BIT was more influenced by anaerobic microorganisms. Furthermore, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria were the predominant bacterial phyla, accounting for 93.74% of all OTUs, which played an important role in the degradation of BIT. Lysinibacillus had a high relative abundance (21.10%) under flooded treatment conditions in Jilin soil, and its bioremediation may be a reason for the rapid degradation of BIT in flooded treatment. Besides, only soil organic matter (SOM) and pH among the soil properties had significant effects on the microbial community. Based on the further analysis of bacterial phenotype, some microorganisms related to the biodegradation of BIT were found, mainly belonging to Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. This study provides a useful theoretical basis for the biodegradation of BIT using isolated microorganisms.

High-Throughput Assessment of the Abiotic Stability of Test Chemicals in In Vitro Bioassays

Abiotic stability of chemicals is not routinely tested prior to performing in vitro bioassays, although abiotic degradation can reduce the concentration of test chemicals leading to the formation of active or inactive transformation products, which may lead to misinterpretation of bioassay results. A high-throughput workflow was developed to measure the abiotic stability of 22 test chemicals in protein-rich aqueous media under typical bioassay conditions at 37 °C for 48 h. These test chemicals were degradable in the environment according to a literature review. The chemicals were extracted from the exposure media at different time points using a novel 96-pin solid-phase microextraction. The conditions were varied to differentiate between various reaction mechanisms. For most hydrolyzable chemicals, pH-dependent degradation in phosphate-buffered saline indicated that acid-catalyzed hydrolysis was less important than reactions with hydroxide ions. Reactions with proteins were mainly responsible for the depletion of the test chemicals in the media, which was simulated by bovine serum albumin (BSA) and glutathione (GSH). 1,2-Benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one, 2-methyl-4-isothiazolinone, and l-sulforaphane reacted almost instantaneously with GSH but not with BSA, indicating that GSH is a good proxy for reactivity with electrophilic amino acids but may overestimate the actual reaction with three-dimensional proteins. Chemicals such as hydroquinones or polyunsaturated chemicals are prone to autoxidation, but this reaction is difficult to differentiate from hydrolysis and could not be simulated by the oxidant N-bromosuccinimide. Photodegradation played a minor role because cells are exposed in incubators in the dark and simulations with high light intensities did not yield realistic degradation. Stability predictions from various in silico prediction models for environmental conditions can give initial indications of the stability but were not always consistent with the experimental stability in bioassays. As the presented workflow can be performed in high throughput under realistic bioassay conditions, it can be used to provide an experimental database for developing bioassay-specific stability prediction models.

Current and future chemical treatments to fight biodeterioration of outdoor building materials and associated biofilms: Moving away from ecotoxic and towards efficient, sustainable solutions

All types of building materials are rapidly colonized by microorganisms, initially through an invisible and then later a visible biofilm that leads to their biodeterioration. Over centuries, this natural phenomenon has been managed using mechanical procedures, oils, or even wax. In modern history, many treatments such as high-pressure cleaners, biocides (mainly isothiazolinones and quaternary ammonium compounds) are commercially available, as well as preventive ones, such as the use of water-repellent coatings in the fabrication process. While all these cleaning techniques offer excellent cost-benefit ratios, their limitations are numerous. Indeed, building materials are often quickly recolonized after application, and microorganisms are increasingly reported as resistant to chemical treatments. Furthermore, many antifouling compounds are ecotoxic, harmful to human health and the environment, and new regulations tend to limit their use and constrain their commercialization. The current state-of-the-art highlights an urgent need to develop innovative antifouling strategies and the widespread use of safe and eco-friendly solutions to biodeterioration. Interestingly, innovative approaches and compounds have recently been identified, including the use of photocatalysts or natural compounds such as essential oils or quorum sensing inhibitors. Most of these solutions developed in laboratory settings appear very promising, although their efficiency and ecotoxicological features remain to be further tested before being widely marketed. This review highlights the complexity of choosing the adequate antifouling compounds when fighting biodeterioration and proposes developing case-to-case innovative strategies to raise this challenge, relying on integrative and multidisciplinary approaches.

Bifunctional nickel foam composite cathode co-modified with CoFe@NC and CNTs for electrocatalytic degradation of atrazine over wide pH range

Bifunctional cathodes have attracted widespread interest in the heterogeneous electro-Fenton (hetero-EF) process. In this study, the bifunctional composite cathode co-modified with N-doped carbon CoFe alloy (CoFe@NC) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), designated as CoFe@NC-CNTs/CNTs/NF, integrating hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) synthesis and catalysis, was prepared for efficient degradation of atrazine (ATZ) under the near-neutral condition (pH_i = 5.9). The morphology properties, crystal structure, microstructures, and elemental composition were determined. The influences of current density, initial pH value, different anions, and water matrix on the removal of ATZ were systematically studied. In the hetero-EF process, high removal efficiencies of ATZ can be achieved over the broad pH range (3-9) under the current density of 4.5 mA cm^-2. The removal efficiency of ATZ remained at 90.2 ± 0.3% after 8 cycles under the near-neutral condition (pH_i = 5.9). Radical quenching tests and EPR spectra have verified that both free radical pathways such as superoxide anion (O₂·^-) and hydroxyl radical (·OH) and non-radical pathway such as singlet oxygen (¹O₂) contributed to ATZ removal. The degradation pathways and catalytic mechanism were proposed. Toxicity evaluation and Escherichia coli growth test showed that the toxicity gradually decreased during the degradation process. This work provided a new thought for developing an efficient and stable bifunctional cathode to construct an in-situ hetero-EF system for pollutants removal over the wide pH range.

Sol-gel-derived hard coatings from tetraethoxysilane and organoalkoxysilanes bearing zwitterionic and isothiazolinone groups and their antifouling behaviors

Current environmentally friendly marine antifouling (AF) coatings are mainly polymeric with a relatively low hardness. Hard sol-gel-derived AF coatings for underwater robot-cleaning are seldom used. In this work, two new organoalkoxysilanes, i.e., (N-methoxyacylethyl)-3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and 2-(2-hydroxy-3-(3-(trimethoxysilyl)propoxy)propyl)benzo[d]isothiazol-3(2H)-one, were synthesized by a facile method. These two precursors were used with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) to produce three series of hybrid AF coatings with zwitterionic group (Z-χ), antibacterial group (1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one) (A-χ) and zwitterionic and antibacterial groups (S-χ) by a sol-gel process. The hardness of the coatings was measured using a pencil hardness tester and the AF behaviors of the coatings were examined by laboratory and field assays. A pencil hardness up to 5 H was achieved and slight deterioration was observed after 9 months of immersion in artificial seawater for the A-χ and S-χ coatings at a sufficiently high TEOS content. A synergistic effect between the zwitterion and antimicrobial agents existed but was not obvious. A higher TEOS content led to a higher hardness and better AF performance regardless of the type of AF group. Even with the same biofilm formation after field assay, coatings with a higher TEOS content exhibited a better resistance to mussel settlement.

Photo-induced degradation and toxicity change of decabromobiphenyl ethers (BDE-209) in water: Effects of dissolved organic matter and halide ions

BDE-209 is a widely used brominated flame retardant that is ubiquitous in the aquatic environment, especially in marine water. However, photodegradation of BDE-209 in seawater is still not fully understood. In this work, the photodegradation kinetics of BDE-209 in water was studied and the effects of seawater dissolved organic matter (S-DOM) and halide ions (Cl^-, Br^-) were evaluated. S-DOM inhibited the degradation of BDE-209 through dynamic quenching and light shielding effect. However, with the coexistence of S-DOM, Cl^- and Br^-, the photodegradation of BDE-209 was significantly promoted. The promotional effect is attributed to the generation of excited triplet state S-DOM, singlet oxygen, and reactive halogen radicals. The results of density functional theory calculation showed that •Cl addition reaction on C-Br sites of BDE-209 is the main reaction pathway of BDE-209 with chlorine radical, which leads to the generation of mixed Cl/Br substituted intermediates. The acute toxicity and estrogenic effects of BDE-209 solution were enhanced during simulated sunlight irradiation. These results indicate that the environmental factors in seawater play important roles in the photodegradation of BDE-209, and contribute to the potential ecological risks of PBDEs in the marine environment.

Local Toxicity of Biocides after Direct and Aerosol Exposure on the Human Skin Epidermis and Airway Tissue Models

Biocides are commonly used as spray- or trigger-type formulations, thus dermal and respiratory exposure to biocide aerosol is unavoidable. However, little is known about the impact of aerosolization on the local toxicity of biocides on the skin or the airway. We compared the local toxicity of biocides after direct or aerosol exposure on reconstructed human skin epidermis and upper airway models. Three biocides, 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one (BIT), 2-phenoxyethanol (PE), and 2-phenylphenol (OPP), most widely used in the market were selected. When the biocide was treated in aerosols, toxicity to the skin epidermis and upper airway tissue became significantly attenuated compared with the direct application as determined by the higher tissue viabilities. This was further confirmed in histological examination, wherein the tissue damages were less pronounced. LC-MS/MS and GC/MS analysis revealed that concentrations of biocides decreased during aerosolization. Importantly, the toxicity of biocides treated in 3 μm (median mass aerodynamic diameter (MMAD)) aerosols was stronger than that of 5 μm aerosol, suggesting that the aerosol particle size may affect biocide toxicity. Collectively, we demonstrated that aerosolization could affect the local toxicity of biocides on the skin epidermis and the upper airway.

Abiotic fate of tolylfluanid and dichlofluanid in natural waters

To prevent the growth of unwanted organisms on ship hulls, antifouling paints, containing biocides such as tolylfluanid (N-[dichlor(fluor)methyl]sulfanyl-N-(dimethylsulfamoyl)-4-methylaniline) and dichlofluanid (N-(dichlorfluormethylthio)-N',N'-dimethyl-N-phenylsulfamid), are applied. There are concerns over their occurrence and fate in the marine environment due to long-term immersion in water. In the present study, the hydrolysis and photolysis of these compounds were investigated. Results showed that tolylfluanid and dichlofluanid hydrolyzed completely to their respective hydrolysis products DMST (N,N-dimethyl-N'-p-tolylsulfamide) and DMSA (N,N-dimethyl-N'-phenylsulfamide) in coastal water within 24 h. Furthermore, the transformation of tolylfluanid and dichlofluanid under natural sunlight was determined in selected marine waters (coastal water and sea water) in comparison to deionized water. The experiments revealed that photodegradation rates of DMST and DMSA in coastal water were higher than in sea water or deionized water. The indirect phototransformation of the hydrolysis products with selected reactive species (triplet state organic matter, singlet oxygen, and hydroxyl radicals) showed that DMST and DMSA mainly display triplet reactivity. The measured half-lives of the hydrolysis products in natural waters were 2.7 and 23 days, with DMST being considerably faster transformed than DMSA. However, several direct and indirect photoproducts have been newly identified and measured. DMS (N,N-dimethylsulfamide), was identified as the major phototransformation product in natural waters. It is generated by indirect photodegradation processes and exhibits potential persistence in the environment.

Treatments of a phthalocyanine-based green ink for tattoo removal purposes: generation of toxic fragments and potentially harmful morphologies

Since tattoos became overwhelmingly fashionable worldwide, the demand for removal has proportionally increased, Nd:YAG Q-switch laser being the most commonly used tool for the purpose. In this framework we investigated the composition and products of laser treatment of green tattoo ink, the Green Concentrate from Eternal. The ink characterization has been carried out by IR, UV-Vis, EDX spectroscopies, and SEM imaging. It revealed the presence of the pigment PG7, rather than PG36 as reported on the bottle label, along with non-fully halogenated analogues. The morphology is an extended sheath with embedded grains. Subsequent laser treatments were performed on both dried and extracted inks, dispersed either in water or in propan-2-ol, chosen for their different polarities, as it is the case in the skin layers. The products were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, UV-Vis spectroscopy, SEM imaging, and dynamic light scattering. The outcome is a complex fragmentation pattern that depends both on the solvent and on the initial aggregation state. The fragment compounds are toxic at various degrees according to the Classification Labelling and Packaging regulations. Several shapes of aggregates are produced as an effect of both downsizing and re-aggregation, with potentially harmful aspect ratios.