Genotoxicity Signatures Near Brine Outflows from Desalination Plants in the Levant

(1) Background: Desalination is a developing industry that keeps expanding, nowadays counting >15,000 infrastructures worldwide. A byproduct of the desalination process concentrated brine, further containing operational chemicals, including antiscalants and coagulants. Yet, potential genotoxic impacts inclusive brine are inadequately studied. (2) Methods: In vitro in vivo assays were used to test representative antiscalant coagulant. The model cnidarian Nematostella vectensis was employed assess tested pollutants on animal longevity. Additionally, genotoxicity seawater sampled near four plants using comet assay. (3) Results: analyses coagulant revealed neither nor cytotoxic effects at environmentally relevant concentrations, but they destructive whole organisms (N. vectensis) various developmental stages. Part samples from sites genotoxic, revealing ephemeral mosaic genotoxicity. Since situated highly anthropogenic-impacted areas, it impossible this stage evaluate possible contribution overall marine (4) Conclusions: Exact desalination-associated chemicals itself should be evaluated directly for