N-halamines, MarineLand 'Life Guard'

[Amphiprion]

Any info or ideas on this compound and its effectiveness? Obviously it can treat drinking water, etc. effectively, but what about diseased aquatic life at therapeutic dosages? THe only info I can gather on actual treatment subjects are on oyster beds infected with Perkinsus marinus.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I could not find exactly what the ingredients are, nor whether they recommend it for reef aquaria, but chloramine is a halamine, and I would not add it at any concentration to a reef aquarium. I discuss its toxicity here:

Chloramine
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-11/rhf/feature/index.htm

 

[Amphiprion]

Thanks, Randy. The ingredients list the primary one as 1-chloro-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-4-imidazolidinone, so it has a bunch of methyls and that one chloro group, which I am assuming is the root of the active disinfecting mechanism. It is supposed to be a more complex chloramine derivative and used previously in water treatment, but supposedly also useful in ornamentals. I just haven't seen enough on it/about it to even consider recommending it to my customers (short of the few studies done on it) and was just wondering if you had any extra insight on it. I was thinking about the connection to chloramines myself, which is one of the reasons I am so skeptical about the stuff.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Ah, OK, I misinterpreted their use of halamine. I don't know anything about its efficacy or toxicity.

Anyone else?

Here's one reference:


Submitted to: Aquaculture Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: January 31, 2004
Publication Date: March 1, 2004
Citation: DELANEY, M.A., KLESIUS, P.H., WORLEY, S.D. THE USE OF AN N-HALAMINE DISINFECTANT TO PREVENT AND TREAT FUNGUS ON EGGS OF CHANNEL CATFISH (ICTALURUS PUNCTATUS). AQUACULTURE CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. 2004.

Technical Abstract: Fish eggs incubated in high density culture conditions are susceptible to infection by aquatic fungi (Saprolegniacae). These fungi are ubiquitous in water supplies and rapidly spread from infected to non-infected eggs and can cause serious losses to the aquaculturalist. A series of experiments was conducted to examine the effectiveness of an N-halamine disinfectant {1-chloro-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-4-imidazolidinone (MC)}to prevent and treat fungal infections of channel catfish eggs. Formalin, a widely used treatment for fungal infections, was used for comparison. Four replications of non-eyed eggs were treated at 127, 254, 509, 1018 mg/L MC (corresponding to 25, 50, 100, 200 mg/L total chlorine) or formalin at the rate of 1000 µL/L for 15 minutes daily up to hatch. For all MC treatments the mean percent hatch was (83, 58, 88, 72%, respectively), higher than in the untreated controls (51%). The formalin treatment mean percent hatch was lower (28%). In the second study, four replications of non-eyed eggs were treated at 64, 127, 254, 509 mg/L MC (corresponding to 12.5, 25, 50, 100 mg/L total chlorine) or formalin at the rate of 1000 µL/L for a one-time treatment of 30 min. For all MC treatments the mean percent hatch (74, 56, 75, 51%, respectively) was greater than in the untreated controls (47%). The formalin treatment mean percent hatch rate was lower (27%). In both experiments MC treatments increased the hatching of channel catfish eggs. This suggests that the existing Investigational New Animal Drug Permit in place for using MC on channel catfish to control protozoan and bacterial pathogens in ponds and raceways could be expanded to include the control of fungus on eggs.

 

[Amphiprion]

Here is the MSDS submission:
http://www.clubjungle.com/uploads/msds/Lifeguard Tablets.pdf

more studies:
Title: The Acute Toxicity of Two N-Halamine Disinfectants to Larval Oysters Crassostrea Virginica

Authors

Delaney, Mary
Brady, Y - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
Worley, S - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
Huels, K - AUBURN UNIVERSITY


Submitted to: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: December 7, 2002
Publication Date: N/A


Interpretive Summary: This study evaluated the toxicity of a new class of compounds, N-halamines, on survival of larval oysters (Crassostrea virginica). Larval oysters are an EPA approved test organism for the assessment of toxicity of wasterwater discharges to the environment. The two N-halamine compounds used are commonly called MC (1-chloro-2,2,3,3-tetramethyl-4-imidazolidinone) and DC (1,3-dichloro-2,2,3,3-tetramethyl-4-imidazolidinone). Traditional disinfection of drinking water and wastewater usually involves chlorine, which is very toxic to saltwater organisms due to the complex chemistry of seawater. Although these compounds contain chlorine, they do not react in the same manner, allowing more effective disinfection of water sources with less potential damage to the environment. Free chlorine has been reported to kill 50% of larval oysters at levels of 0.0005 mg/L. No measurable amounts of free chlorine are released at concentrations up to 8.0 mg/L total chlorine as MC and 10.0 mg/L as DC. Larval oysters were able to withstand concentrations up to these levels for 96 hours prior to the termination of the test. A bacterial pathogen of larval oysters, Vibrio vulnificus, can be eliminated from the water at levels of 0.1 mg/L total chlorine with 1 hour of contact time, therefore, these is significant potential for the use of these compounds in oyster hatcheries to prevent bacterial infections without damaging the larvae.
Technical Abstract: Two N-halamine disinfectant compounds were evaluated for toxicity to the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin) larvae. The compounds were 1,3-dichloro-2,2,5,5- tetramethyl-4-imidazolidinone (DC) and 1-chloro-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-4-imidazolidinone (MC). The studies conducted were 96-h, static, replacement studies. Larval filtering and attachment to the substrate was observed at concentrations up to 1.7 mg/L total chlorine as DC and 4 mg/L total chlorine as MC. Larval oysters were able to survive in up to 8.0 mg/L total chlorine as the compound MC and 10 mg/L total chlorine of the compound DC for 96 hs at which time the test was terminated. These values are significantly higher than previously reported LC50 values of 0.005 mg/L total chlorine from sources of "free chlorine". Since one pathogen of larval oysters in hatcheries (Vibrio vulnificus) can be eliminated from the water column at levels of 0.1 mg/L total chlorine for both compounds at contact times of less than one h, as demonstrated in previous work, there is a significant potential for the use of these compounds in oyster hatcheries to prevent bacterial infections without damaging the oyster larvae.

Title: The Potential Use of N-Halamine Disinfectants for Disease Prevention and Treatment in Aquaculture: An Overview

Author

Delaney, Mary


Submitted to: Aquaculture America Conference
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: November 23, 2002
Publication Date: February 18, 2003
Citation: DELANEY, M.A. THE POTENTIAL USE OF N-HALAMINE DISINFECTANTS FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT IN AQUACULTURE: AN OVERVIEW. AQUACULTURE AMERICA CONFERENCE. 2003.

Technical Abstract: Many environmental stressors are associated with the intensive culture of fish. These include poor water quality, overcrowding, insufficient dissolved oxygen, rapid environmental changes, poor nutrition and poor handling practices. The stress induced by these environmental and management practices can result in reduced growth, poor feed conversion as well as increased susceptibility to disease. Outbreaks of most parasites and many bacteria, including Flavobacterium columnare can also follow stressful episodes and if not remedied disease can occur. Few therapeutants are available for the treatment of disease in fish populations, fewer still that will work in both fresh and saltwater. One class of compounds, N-halamines, originally developed as human drinking water disinfectants, has shown promise against external parasites and bacteria of both freshwater and marine fish. The compounds are 1,3-dichloro 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-4-imidazolidinone (DC) and 1-chloro 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-4-imidazolidinone (MC). N-halamine compounds are so named because of the presence of one or two chlorine atoms (halogens) attached to a carbon ring structure. The precursor of these compounds is a stabilizer of free chlorine or a chlorine adjuvant. The stabilizing action of the ring structure reduces the toxicity of the chlorine to the animal and prevents bromine substitution in saltwater applications. This presentation will provide an overview of the research conducted to date using these compounds in the treatment and prevention of diseases in fish and shellfish as well as providing an update on the progress made towards establishing an INAD.

Apparently it was safely used for some invertebrates. Still doesn't seem like a good idea to me, as those oysters are pretty resilient organisms.