Impact assessment of galvanic anode cathodic protection systems on the early life stages of the shrimp Palaemon elegans

Journal Article

Title: Impact assessment of galvanic anode cathodic protection systems on the early life stages of the shrimp Palaemon elegans

Author:

Dussauze, M.; Safi, G.; Copin, D.; Le Floch, S.; Caplat, C.

Publication Date:

December 16, 2025

Journal:

Environmental Science and Pollution Research

Volume:

Pages:

30693–30707

Publisher:

Springer Nature

Affiliation

France Energies Marines, L’Institut Régional des Matériaux Avancés (IRMA), University of Caen Normandy (UNICAEN), Cedre

Technology:

Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind

Stressor:

Chemicals

Receptor:

Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Water Quality

Language:

English

Document Access

Website:

External Link

Citation

APA
BibTex
RIS

Dussauze, M.; Safi, G.; Copin, D.; Le Floch, S.; Caplat, C. (2025). Impact assessment of galvanic anode cathodic protection systems on the early life stages of the shrimp Palaemon elegans. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 32, 30693–30707. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-025-37265-8

@article{Dussauze-2025-2114671,
author = {Dussauze, M and Safi, G and Copin, D and Le Floch, S and Caplat, C},
title = {Impact assessment of galvanic anode cathodic protection systems on the early life stages of the shrimp Palaemon elegans},
journal = {Environmental Science and Pollution Research},
year = {2025},
month = {dec},
publisher = {Springer Nature},
volume = {32},
pages = {30693--30707},
doi = {10.1007/s11356-025-37265-8},
url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-025-37265-8},
keywords = {Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Chemicals, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Water Quality},
}

Export Citation to BibTex

TY - JOUR
TI - Impact assessment of galvanic anode cathodic protection systems on the early life stages of the shrimp Palaemon elegans
AU - Dussauze, M
AU - Safi, G
AU - Copin, D
AU - Le Floch, S
AU - Caplat, C
T2 - Environmental Science and Pollution Research
AB - In the context of the deployment of offshore wind farms in France, the potential impact of Galvanic Anode Cathodic Protections (GACP) was highlighted as an environmental concern due to the chronic release of metallic elements (mainly aluminium (Al) and zinc (Zn)). Therefore, it is essential to assess both the behaviour and fate of these metallic elements and their potential biological impacts. Hence, a chronic toxicity study was performed on the decapod Palaemon elegans by exposing early life stages (embryo and zoea larvae) to Al-GACP elements (mainly composed of a mix of Al (≃95%) and Zn (≃5%)) from one side and to aluminium chloride (Al-salt) with a range of total Al nominal concentrations from 120 µg L−1 to 10 mg L−1 on the other side. Seven days after the beginning of exposure, hatching occurred without any perturbation or delay between all the experimental conditions. Based on the measurements of total Al concentrations and larvae survival assessments, the Lethal Concentration (LC)10 and LC50 at the end of the 20 days of exposure post-hatching were estimated in terms of total Al concentration. LC10 and LC50 were both significantly lower for the Al-GACP conditions compared to the Al-salt condition with respectively 64 and 135 µg Al L−1 against 200 and 281 µg Al L−1. The Lowest Observed Effect Concentration (LOEC) is estimated at 28 µg L−1 of total Al. Perturbation in the moulting cycle was observed, with an acceleration in moulting frequency from the 4th moult compared with the control group for the 120 and 370 µg Al L−1 conditions (Al-GACP and Al-salt). When comparing our results to the Predictive Environmental Concentration of GACP elements within an Offshore Wind Farm, the risk related to anodes degradation in the water column of an open marine area appears to be marginal for the decapod Palaemon elegans. However, future studies should focus on other representative species across various trophic levels to draw conclusive results. Furthermore, understanding the fate and behaviour of GACP elements in the sedimentary matrix is a pivotal issue for fully deciphering the risk associated with the release of GACP into the marine environment.
DA - 2025/12//
PY - 2025
PB - Springer Nature
VL - 32
SP - 30693–30707
UR - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-025-37265-8
DO - 10.1007/s11356-025-37265-8
LA - English
KW - Wind Energy
KW - Fixed Offshore Wind
KW - Chemicals
KW - Invertebrates
KW - Physical Environment
KW - Water Quality
ER -

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Abstract

In the context of the deployment of offshore wind farms in France, the potential impact of Galvanic Anode Cathodic Protections (GACP) was highlighted as an environmental concern due to the chronic release of metallic elements (mainly aluminium (Al) and zinc (Zn)). Therefore, it is essential to assess both the behaviour and fate of these metallic elements and their potential biological impacts. Hence, a chronic toxicity study was performed on the decapod Palaemon elegans by exposing early life stages (embryo and zoea larvae) to Al-GACP elements (mainly composed of a mix of Al (≃95%) and Zn (≃5%)) from one side and to aluminium chloride (Al-salt) with a range of total Al nominal concentrations from 120 µg L−1 to 10 mg L−1 on the other side. Seven days after the beginning of exposure, hatching occurred without any perturbation or delay between all the experimental conditions. Based on the measurements of total Al concentrations and larvae survival assessments, the Lethal Concentration (LC)10 and LC50 at the end of the 20 days of exposure post-hatching were estimated in terms of total Al concentration. LC10 and LC50 were both significantly lower for the Al-GACP conditions compared to the Al-salt condition with respectively 64 and 135 µg Al L−1 against 200 and 281 µg Al L−1. The Lowest Observed Effect Concentration (LOEC) is estimated at 28 µg L−1 of total Al. Perturbation in the moulting cycle was observed, with an acceleration in moulting frequency from the 4th moult compared with the control group for the 120 and 370 µg Al L−1 conditions (Al-GACP and Al-salt). When comparing our results to the Predictive Environmental Concentration of GACP elements within an Offshore Wind Farm, the risk related to anodes degradation in the water column of an open marine area appears to be marginal for the decapod Palaemon elegans. However, future studies should focus on other representative species across various trophic levels to draw conclusive results. Furthermore, understanding the fate and behaviour of GACP elements in the sedimentary matrix is a pivotal issue for fully deciphering the risk associated with the release of GACP into the marine environment.