This study investigated the ecotoxic and genotoxic effects of composite components after grinding. Samples of composite materials Ceram.x Spectra® ST (CX) and Filtek™ Supreme XTE (FS) were ground to dust in a plexiglas box with a standard diamond bur (106 µm). Aqueous (≤ 5 mg/mL) and organic (≤ 790 mg/mL) extracts were prepared to mimic wastewater samples. Ecotoxicity was assessed in luminescent bacteria ( Vibrio fischeri ), algae ( Desmodesmus subspicatus ), water flea ( Daphnia magna ), and fish embryo ( Danio rerio ). Genotoxicity was evaluated in human lung adenocarcinoma cells (A459) using the Comet assay. All statistical analyses were conducted using a significance level of α = 0.05. Both materials inhibited V. fischeri bioluminescence; CX aqueous eluates showed significantly stronger effects than FS at 2.5 mg/mL (p < 0.01) and 1.25 mg/mL (p < 0.05). Organic extracts were similarly potent (EC50 ≈ 0.27–0.28 mg/mL) without significant differences. In algae, CX aqueous eluates caused significantly higher growth inhibition at all concentrations than FS (p < 0.01); CX organic extracts completely suppressed growth. In Daphnia , CX aqueous eluates caused 100% immobilization, while FS showed no effect. In fish embryos, CX aqueous eluates induced up to 100% mortality (≥ 1.33 mg/mL), whereas FS caused no mortality but impaired pigmentation. Organic extracts of both materials induced embryo mortality up to 100% at 2 mg/mL. No biologically relevant genotoxicity was found. Both composites exhibit concentration-dependent ecotoxic effects across aqueous organisms. Identifying responsible compounds and implementing effective wastewater treatment are crucial to reduce potential environmental risks. • Intraoral polishing of resin-based materials generates fine particulate matter. • Dust eluates induce dose-dependent toxicity in aquatic test organisms. • No genotoxic potential detected in particle eluates.
Reidelbach et al. (Fri,) studied this question.