Assessment of toxicity of dissolved and microencapsulated biocides for control of the Golden Mussel Limnoperna fortunei

• The Amazon ecosystem is at risk of invasion by Limnoperna fortunei.
• Diluted chlorine is efficient in controlling the invasive pest only in high doses.
• Microencapsulated chemicals showed less variability in ecotoxicological tests.
• Microencapsulation is a reliable alternative to control infestation in pipelines.

Biological invasions currently pose major threats to ecosystems worldwide. Invasive bivalves such as the Golden Mussel Limnoperna fortunei can act as ‘environmental engineers’, altering biogeochemistry, reducing biodiversity, and literally changing the landscape of aquatic environments. The risk that this mussel will invade the Amazon basin is a great concern for environmental authorities, especially because no efficient control methods presently exist. In this study, we tested new microencapsulated chemicals, along with the traditional dissolved chlorine and KCl, as alternatives to control L. fortunei infestation in industrial and water supply plants along rivers. Because these bivalves can close their valves when they sense toxic substances in the water, microencapsulation has improved the effectiveness of the chemicals in controlling L. fortunei, reducing variation in the application and increasing toxicity compared to dissolved chemicals. Microencapsulation should be seriously considered as an alternative to replace hazardous chlorine.