Assessing the solubility, chemical stability and ecotoxicology of an emerging non-halogenated flame retardant, melamine cyanurate, against a prevalent halogenated congener, tetrabromophthalic anhydride.

N Masud, P Hansal, B D Ward, J Cable

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Article in Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

N MasudCardiff University, School of Biosciences and Water Institute, Museum Avenue, CF10 3AX, UK. Electronic address: MasudN@cardiff.ac.uk.

P HansalCardiff University, School of Chemistry and Water Institute, Park Place, CF10 3AT, UK.

B D WardCardiff University, School of Chemistry and Water Institute, Park Place, CF10 3AT, UK.

J CableCardiff University, School of Biosciences and Water Institute, Museum Avenue, CF10 3AX, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Concerns over plastic-associated chemical toxicity are increasing amid the plastic pollution crisis. Halogenated flame retardants, though effective in plastic development, are being phased out due to toxicity, while nitrogen-based alternatives, such as melamine cyanurate (MC), are considered more chemically stable and less toxic. Here, we assess the solubility and chemical stability of MC in freshwater using various solvents and evaluate degradation after UV exposure. Additionally, we compare the acute and chronic aquatic toxicity of MC to the more widespread halogenated flame retardant tetrabromophthalic anhydride (TBA) using the Daphnia magna invertebrate model. Toxicity of a common solvent, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), was also assessed. MC was insoluble in 16 of 18 tested solvents, with solubility only seen in a strong acid and base. UV exposure for 72 h within freshwater media indicated minimal degradation, classifying MC as a highly stable compound. Acute toxicity tests at 1-20 mg/L showed no significant difference in EC

Indexed as

Flame RetardantsTriazinesWater Pollutants, ChemicalAnimalsDaphniaEcotoxicologySolubilityToxicity Tests, AcuteFlame Retardantsmelamine cyanurateTriazinesWater Pollutants, ChemicalAquatic toxicityDaphnia magnaDimethyl sulfoxideFlame retardantsMelamine cyanurate

Identifiers

PMID40816006

DOI10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107537

PMCPMC7619209

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.