The toxicity differences of lithium-ion battery cathode materials, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) to zebrafish(Danio rerio): Mechanisms and environmental impacts.

The widespread use and improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) have raised increasing concerns regarding lithium-related contamination in aquatic ecosystems, yet the ecotoxicological effects and underlying mechanisms of representative cathode materials, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), remain poorly understood. In this study, the toxicological impacts of LFP and LCO (0, 1, 5, and 25 mg L-1) on zebrafish were systematically investigated using an integrated multi-level approach encompassing biochemical assays, gene expression analysis, metabolomics, histopathology, molecular docking, and integrated biomarker response (IBRv2) assessment. Distinct material-specific toxicity profiles were observed: LFP exposure predominantly activated antioxidant defenses, accompanied by lipid peroxidation and disturbances in nitrogen metabolism, whereas LCO elicited concentration-dependent bidirectional regulation with pronounced heterogeneity across multiple physiological systems. Metabolomic analyses revealed that LCO mainly disrupted phospholipid metabolism, while LFP primarily affected branched-chain amino acid pathways. Histopathological examination confirmed organ-level damage, with more severe intestinal injury observed under LCO exposure. Molecular docking demonstrated stable interactions between both materials and key target proteins (e.g., SOD, LFABP, and Caspase3), mediated by hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. IBRv2 integration further highlighted stage-specific toxic responses and indicated a lower toxicity threshold for LCO compared to LFP. Overall, this study elucidates the differential toxicological mechanisms and relative ecological risks of LFP and LCO, providing a scientific basis for environmental risk assessment and the sustainable management of LiB-derived contaminants.