The uptake and elimination of ZnO and CuO nanoparticles in Daphnia magna under chronic exposure scenarios

Silica Nanoparticle Size Determines the Mechanisms Underlying the Inhibition of Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Uptake by Daphnia magna

Aquatic environments are complicated systems that contain different types of nanoparticles (NPs). Nevertheless, recent studies of NP toxicity, and especially those that have focused on bioaccumulation have mostly investigated only a single type of NPs. Assessments of the environmental risks of NPs that do not consider co-exposure regimes may lead to inaccurate conclusions and ineffective environmental regulation. Thus, the present study examined the effects of differently sized silica NPs (SiO2 NPs) on the uptake of iron oxide NPs (Fe2O3 NPs) by the zooplankton Daphnia magna. Both SiO2 NPs and Fe2O3 NPs were well dispersed in the experimental medium without significant heteroaggregation. Although all three sizes of SiO2 NPs inhibited the uptake of Fe2O3 NPs, the underlying mechanisms differed. SiO2 NPs smaller than the average mesh size (∼200 nm) of the filtering apparatus of D. magna reduced the accumulation of Fe2O3 NPs through uptake competition, whereas larger SiO2 NPs inhibited the uptake of Fe2O3 NPs mainly by reducing the water filtration rate of the daphnids. Overall, in evaluations of the risks of NPs in the natural environment, the different mechanisms underlying the effects of NPs of different sizes on the uptake of dissimilar NPs should be considered.

Polystyrene microplastics facilitate the biotoxicity and biomagnification of ZnO nanoparticles in the food chain from algae to daphnia

Ubiquitous microplastics (MPs) may affect the trophic transfer of nanoparticles (NPs), in turn threatening aquatic organisms and even human health. Thus, this study explored the influence of polystyrene microplastics (PS MPs) on the biotoxicity and biomagnification of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in the aquatic food chain from Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) to Daphnia magna (D. magna). The results showed that PS MPs facilitated the biotoxicity of ZnO NPs towards D. magna after dietary exposure. Compared to the control (single ZnO NPs), the heart rate and the level of reactive oxygen species were remarkably increased by 21.25% and 16.32% in the combined system (PS MPs + ZnO NPs), respectively. Notably, PS MPs suppressed the ZnO NPs accumulation in C. vulgaris, while remarkably facilitating the trophic transfer of ZnO NPs to D. magna. The biomagnification of ZnO NPs was evident with a maximal biomagnification factor (BMF) of 1.49 under acute dietary exposure of PS MPs (72 h), but was absent in the single ZnO NPs system (BMF <0.90). Moreover, PS MPs resulted in a larger biomagnification of ZnO NPs with a maximal BMF of 2.11 under chronic dietary exposure (21 days). Furthermore, the Zn element (including ZnO NPs and released Zn²⁺) was observed to accumulate in the intestine, thus causing ultrastructural damage and lipid droplet (LD) aggregate. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of considering the impact of MPs on co-existed pollutants and contribute to a better understanding of the ecological risks of MPs in aquatic ecosystems.

Untangling the Interactions between Anionic Polystyrene Nanoparticles and Lipid Membranes Using Laurdan Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Molecular Simulations

Several classes of synthetic nanoparticles (NPs) induce rearrangements of cell membranes that can affect membrane function. This paper describes the investigation of the interactions between polystyrene nanoparticles and liposomes, which serve as model cell membranes, using a combination of laurdan fluorescence spectroscopy and coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The relative intensities of the gel-like and fluid fluorescent peaks of laurdan, which is embedded in the liposome membranes, are quantified from the areas of deconvoluted lognormal laurdan fluorescence peaks. This provides significant advantages in understanding polymer-membrane interactions. Our study reveals that anionic polystyrene NPs, which are not cross-linked, induce significant membrane rearrangement compared to other cationic or anionic NPs. Coarse-grained MD simulations demonstrate that polymer chains from the anionic polystyrene NP penetrate the liposome membrane. The inner leaflet remains intact throughout this process, though both leaflets show a decrease in lipid packing that is indicative of significant local rearrangement of the liposome membrane. These results are attributed to the formation of a hybrid gel made up of a combination of polystyrene (PS) and lipids that forces water molecules away from laurdan. Our study concludes that a combination of negative surface charge to interact electrostatically with positive charges on the membrane, a hydrophobic core to provide a thermodynamic preference for membrane association, and the ability to extend non-cross linked polymer chains into the liposome membrane are necessary for NPs to cause a significant rearrangement in the liposomes.

Investigation of acute toxicity, accumulation, and depuration of ZnO nanoparticles in Daphnia magna

Size is a key factor controlling the rate of dissolution of nanoparticles, such property can be explored for producing controlled release fertilizers. Hence, one can expect the increasing discharge of nanoparticles closer to water streams in the near future. In this study, we employed the model fresh water organism Daphnia magna to investigate the uptake, acute toxicity and depuration of ZnO nanoparticles. The present study shows that the median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) depended on particle size and the presence of surfactant. The LC₅₀ for positive control ZnSO₄ (2.15 mg L^-1), 20 nm ZnO (1.68 mg L^-1), and 40 nm ZnO (1.71 mg L^-1) were statistically the same. However, the addition of surfactant increased the LC₅₀ of 40 nm and 60 nm to 2.93 and 3.24 mg L^-1, respectively. The 300 nm ZnO was the least toxic nanoparticle presenting LC₅₀ of 6.35 mg L^-1. X-ray fluorescence chemical imaging revealed that Zn accumulated along the digestive system regardless the particle size. Finally, contrary to what have been reported by several papers, the present study did not detect any depuration of ZnO nanoparticles in the next 24 h past the exposure assays. Thus, the ability of organisms to expel ingested nanomaterials might be dependent on specific physical-chemical features of such nanomaterials.

Dietary exposure of copper and zinc oxides nanoparticles affect the fitness, enzyme activity, and microbial community of the model insect, silkworm Bombyx mori

Copper and Zinc oxides nanoparticles (CuO and ZnO NPs, respectively) are among the most produced and commonly used engineered nanomaterials. They can be released into the environment, thereby causing health concerns and risks to biodiversity that indicate a need to evaluate their toxicological effects in a complex situation. Here, we used the insect model organism silkworm Bombyx mori to address the concerns about the biological effects associated with dietary exposure of CuO and ZnO NPs. ICP-MS analysis revealed significant accumulation of Cu and Zn (the latter being more accumulated) in silkworms' tissues (gut, fat body, silk gland, and malpighian tubule), and some elimination through feces in the respective NPs-exposed groups. NPs-exposures led to a decrease in larval body mass, survivorship, and cocoon production, where the effects of ZnO NPs were more pronounced. We also found that NPs-exposure induced gene expression changes (Attacin, lysozyme, SOD, and Dronc) and altered the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GST, and CAT), as well as impaired nutrient metabolism (alpha-amylase). Given their antibacterial property, CuO and ZnO NPs decreased species richness and diversity of the gut bacterial community and shifted their configuration to overt microbiome i.e., decreased abundance of probiotics (e.g., Acetobacter) and increased pathobionts (e.g., Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Escherichia, Enterococcus, Ralstonia, etc.) proportions. Overall, this integrated study revealed the unintended negative effects of CuO and ZnO NPs on silkworms and highlighted the potential to inevitably affect all living things due to intensive and possible mishandling of nanomaterials.

Transcriptomic analysis and transgenerational effects of ZnO nanoparticles on Daphnia magna: Endocrine-disrupting potential and energy metabolism

The widespread application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) has raised concerns over the adverse effects on aquatic species. In this study, transcriptomic analysis was applied to evaluate the chronic toxicity of ZnO NPs on the freshwater invertebrate Daphnia magna and the intergenerational effects were then further investigated. Parent daphnia (F0) were exposed to ZnO NPs at 3, 60, and 300 μg L^-1 for 21 days. ZnO NPs significantly inhibited the reproduction (first pregnancy and spawning time, total number of offspring) and growth (molting frequency and body length) of F0. Here, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in lysosomal and phagosome, energy metabolism and endocrine disruption pathways were significantly downregulated. Furthermore, disruption on the transport and catabolic processes probably resulted in the particle accumulation. The inhibited pathways related to energy metabolism may partially account for the body length, molting and reproductive restriction. The suppression of growth and reproduction may attribute to the down-regulation of insulin secretion and ovarian steroidogenesis pathways, respectively. Partial recovery of growth and reproductive inhibition in F1 - F3 descended from the F0 generation exposure did not support constant transgenerational effects. This study unravels the molecular mechanisms and transgenerational consequences of the toxicity of nanoparticles on Daphnia.

Comparison of uptake and elimination kinetics of metallic oxide nanomaterials on the freshwater microcrustacean Daphnia magna

The widespread use and release of nanomaterials (NMs) in aquatic ecosystems is a concerning issue as well as the fate and behavior of the NMs in relation to the aquatic organisms. In this work, the freshwater microcrustacean Daphnia magna was exposed to 12 different and well-known NMs under the same conditions for 24 h and then placed in clean media for 120 h, in order to determine their different uptake and elimination behaviors. The results showed that most of the tested NMs displayed a fast uptake during the first hours arriving to a plateau by the end of the uptake phase. The elimination behavior was determined by a fast loss of NMs during the first hours in the clean media, mainly stimulated by the presence of food. Remaining NMs concentrations can still be found at the end of the elimination phase. Two NMs had a different profile (i) ZnO-NM110 exhibited increase and loss during the uptake phase, and (ii) SiO₂-NM204 did not show any uptake. A toxicokinetic model was applied and the uptake and elimination rates were found along with the dynamic bioconcentration factors. These values allowed to compare the NMs, to cluster them by their similar rates, and to determine that the TiO₂-NM102 is the one that has the fastest uptake and elimination behavior, SiO₂-NM204 has the slowest uptake and CeO₂ <10 nm has the slowest elimination. The present work represents a first attempt to compare different NMs based on their uptake and elimination behaviors from a perspective of the nano-bio interactions influence.

Dietary uptake and effects of copper in Sticklebacks at environmentally relevant exposures utilizing stable isotope-labeled 65CuCl2 and 65CuO NPs

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) accumulating in sediment can be taken up by invertebrates that serve as prey for fish. Thus, it is likely that the latter are exposed to CuO NPs via the gut. However, to this day it is unknown if CuO NPs can be taken up via the gastrointestinal tract and if and in which tissues/organs they accumulate. To address this knowledge gap, we synthesized CuO NPs enriched in the stable isotope ⁶⁵Cu and incorporated them at low concentration (5 μg ⁶⁵Cu g^-1 ww food) into a practical diet prepared from worm homogenate, which was then fed to Three-spined Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) for 16 days. For comparison, fish were exposed to a diet spiked with a ⁶⁵CuCl₂ solution. Background Cu and newly taken up ⁶⁵Cu in fish tissues/organs including gill, stomach, intestine, liver, spleen, gonad and carcass and feces were quantified by ICP-MS. In addition, expression levels of genes encoding for proteins related to Cu uptake, detoxification and toxicity (ctr-1, gcl, gr, gpx, sod-1, cat, mta and zo-1) were measured in selected tissues using RT-qPCR. The obtained results showed that feces of fish fed ⁶⁵CuO NP-spiked diet contained important amounts of ⁶⁵Cu. Furthermore, there was no significant accumulation of ⁶⁵Cu in any of the analyzed internal organs, though ⁶⁵Cu levels were slightly elevated in liver. No significant modulation in gene expression was measured in fish exposed to ⁶⁵CuO NP-spiked diet, except for metallothionein, which was significantly upregulated in intestinal tissue compared to control fish. Altogether, our results suggests that dietary absorption efficiency of CuO NPs, their uptake across the gastrointestinal barrier into the organism, and effects on Cu-related genes is limited at low, environmentally relevant exposure doses (0.2 μg ⁶⁵Cu ^-1 fish ww day^-1).

The Toxicity of Nanoparticles to Organisms in Freshwater

Nanotechnology is a rapidly growing industry yielding many benefits to society. However, aquatic environments are at risk as increasing amounts of nanoparticles (NPs) are contaminating waterbodies causing adverse effects on aquatic organisms. In this review, the impacts of environmental exposure to NPs, the influence of the physicochemical characteristics of NPs and the surrounding environment on toxicity and mechanisms of toxicity together with NP bioaccumulation and trophic transfer are assessed with a focus on their impacts on bacteria, algae and daphnids. We identify several gaps which need urgent attention in order to make sound decisions to protect the environment. These include uncertainty in both estimated and measured environmental concentrations of NPs for reliable risk assessment and for regulating the NP industry. In addition toxicity tests and risk assessment methodologies specific to NPs are still at the research and development stage. Also conflicting and inconsistent results on physicochemical characteristics and the fate and transport of NPs in the environment suggest the need for further research. Finally, improved understanding of the mechanisms of NP toxicity is crucial in risk assessment of NPs, since conventional toxicity tests may not reflect the risks associated with NPs. Behavioural effects may be more sensitive and would be efficient in certain situations compared with conventional toxicity tests due to low NP concentrations in field conditions. However, the development of such tests is still lacking, and further research is recommended.

Cerium and erbium effects on Daphnia magna generations: A multiple endpoints approach

Cerium (Ce, CeCl₃) and Erbium (Er, ErCl₃) are increasingly used in many electronic devices facilitating the alteration of their biogeochemical cycles (e.g. e-waste). Previous surveys stated that their environmental concentrations due to natural or anthropogenic events can reach up to 161 μg/L in ore mine effluent for Ce with a mean water concentration of 0.79 μg/L, and 11.9 μg/L for Er in ore mine effluents with a mean water concentration of 0.004 μg/L. Their potential effects onto aquatic organisms are still relatively unexplored. In this study, long-term multigenerational effects on Daphnia magna were assessed using various exposure times (3, 7, 14, and 21 days) in three generations (F0, F1 and F2). Each generation was exposed to environmental concentrations of Ce and Er (0.54 and 0.43 μg/L, respectively - mean values) and effects included organisms' size, parental reproduction, and survival, determination of reactive oxygen species (ROS), enzymatic activity (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST)), gene expression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter, and uptake. Results evidenced that chronic multi-generational exposure of daphnids to Ce and Er reduced survival, growth and reproduction, decreasing ROS, SOD and CAT from F0 to F2. Ce reduced the number of generated offsprings after each generation, while Er delayed the time of offsprings emergence, but not their number. ROS, SOD, CAT and GST evidenced that Er is slightly more toxic than Ce. Up- and downregulation of genes was limited, but Ce and Er activated the ABC transporters. Uptake of Ce and Er decreased through exposure time and generations.

Acute toxic effects caused by the co-exposure of nanoparticles of ZnO and Cu in rainbow trout

The toxic effects produced by the co-exposure to low- and non-toxic concentrations of zinc oxide (ZnONPs) and copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) was assessed in rainbow trout following the OECD Test Guideline 203. Four groups of trouts were exposed for 96 h to a range of concentrations (0.0425-0.34 mg/L) of CuNPs (50 nm) in combination with a fixed non-toxic concentration (1.25 mg/L) of ZnONPs (25 nm) determined from an independent concentration-response study. One additional group was exposed to the highest concentration of CuNPs alone. Behaviour and mortality were observed during the experiment. After 96 h exposure, accumulated levels of Cu and Zn in the fish were measured by ICP-MS and ICP-OES, respectively. The induction of oxidative stress in liver and gills was evaluated by the glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity and the reduced glutathione (GSH) / oxidized glutathione (GSSG) ratio. The ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity was also assessed. The results showed that CuNPs at the highest tested concentration do not cause acute toxicity, whereas exposure to all mixtures caused mortality, which was inversely proportional to the concentration of CuNPs (from 28% to 86% survival). Accumulated levels of Cu and Zn in the fish increased with the increasing concentrations of CuNPs, suggesting that the presence of CuNPs favours the entry of Zn. In general, the GST activity increased significantly in the gills of co-exposed groups, whereas the GSH/GSSG ratio was altered in the liver. The EROD activity was not modified. In conclusion, the co-exposure to these NPs potentiates their toxicity, observing an alteration of the GST activity and GSH/GSSG ratio in gill and liver, which was more pronounced at the lowest concentration of CuNPs. The lower toxic effect observed with the highest concentrations of CuNPs coincides with a greater internalization of Zn.

Effect of nano zinc oxide on the acute and reproductive toxicity of cadmium and lead to the marine copepod Tigriopus japonicus

Given the absorbability of nZnO and its inevitable coexistence with trace metals such as Cd and Pb in coastal environment, nZnO can adsorb these pollutants thereby affecting their distribution in different media of marine ecosystem. The marine copepod Tigriopus japonicus was applied in the present study to investigate the combined effect of nZnO and Cd or Pb on mortality and reproduction in marine organisms. For acute exposure, presence of 1.0 mg/L nZnO increased the toxicity of both Cd and Pb, as their LC₅₀ decreased from 5.9 and 75.4 mg/L to 3.95 and 48.0 mg/L, respectively. For 21 d chronic exposure, the reproduction of the copepod was influenced by Cd and Pb at environmental relevant concentrations, and the interaction between nZnO and Cd or Pb appeared to be antagonistic. The waterborne Cd and Pb concentration was affected by nZnO for neither acute nor chronic exposure, indicating no adsorption of these two metals to nZnO at relative low concentration. The overall findings of this study suggested the binary exposure to nZnO/Cd or nZnO/Pb might have potential different toxic mechanisms between acute and chronic exposure.

Algal Foods Reduce the Uptake of Hematite Nanoparticles by Downregulating Water Filtration in Daphnia magna

Rapid developments in nanotechnology have led to the release of substantial amounts of nanoparticles (NPs) into aquatic environments, where many types of biotic particles are present and could potentially interact with the NPs. Nevertheless, how biotic particles may affect the bioaccumulation and toxicity of NPs remains largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii on the accumulation kinetics (uptake, assimilation, efflux) and toxicity of polyacrylate-coated hematite NPs (HemNPs), using Daphnia magna as the test organism. As a biotic particle and daphnid food, C. reinhardtii reduced the accumulation and toxicity of HemNPs in D. magna. The HemNPs were well-dispersed with little adsorption to the alga. Their decreased accumulation could thus be partly explained by their low trophic transfer from the alga to the daphnid and by the inductive effects of the alga on HemNP efflux. However, the main cause was the direct inhibition of HemNP uptake from the water phase as a result of the reduced water-filtration activity of D. magna in the presence of C. reinhardtii. Overall, in bioaccumulation studies, the inhibitory effects of biotic particles on NP uptake from the water phase should be paid attention.

Can the surface modification and/or morphology affect the ecotoxicity of zinc oxide nanomaterials?

Among nanomaterials, zinc oxide (ZnO) is notable for its excellent biocidal properties. In particular, it can be incorporated in mortars to prevent biofouling. However, the morphology of these nanomaterials (NMs) and their impact on the action against biofouling are still unknown. This study aimed to assess how the morphology and surface modification can affect the ecotoxicology of ZnO NMs. The morphologies evaluated were nanoparticles (NPs) and nanorods (NRs), and the ZnO NMs were tested pure and with surface modification through amine functionalization (@AF). The toxic effects of these NMs were evaluated by acute and chronic ecotoxicity tests with the well-established model microcrustacean Daphnia magna. The ZnO NMs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The EC50_48h to D. magna indicated higher acute toxicity of ZnO@AF NRs compared to all tested NMs. Regarding the chronic test with D. magna, high toxic effects on reproduction and longevity were observed with ZnO@AF NRs and effects on growth were observed with ZnO NRs. In general, all tested ZnO NMs presented high toxicity when compared to the positive control, and the NRs presented higher toxicity than NPs in all tested parameters, regardless of the form tested (pure or with surface modification). Additionally, the pathways of ecotoxicity of the tested ZnO NMs was found to be related to combined factors of Zn ion release, effective diameter of particles and NM internalization in the organism.

Quantitative Proteomic Analysis to Understand the Mechanisms of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Toxicity to Daphnia pulex (Crustacea: Daphniidae): Comparing with Bulk Zinc Oxide and Zinc Salt

The widespread use of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) has resulted in their release to the environment. There has been concern about the ecotoxicity of ZnO NPs, but little is known about their toxic mechanisms. In the present study, we conducted acute toxicity tests to show that ZnO NPs are more toxic to the freshwater crustacean Daphnia pulex compared to bulk ZnO or ZnSO₄·7H₂O. To provide an integrated and quantitative insights into the toxicity of ZnO NPs, we conducted isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) proteomic analysis, which detected 262, 331, and 360 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in D. pulex exposed to ZnO NPs, bulk ZnO, and ZnSO₄·7H₂O, respectively. Among the DEPs, 224 were shared among the three treatments. These proteins were related to energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. The three forms of Zn all caused D. pulex to downregulate Chitinase expression, disrupt Ca²⁺ homeostasis, and reduce expression of digestive enzymes. Nevertheless, 29 proteins were expressed only in the ZnO NP treatment. In particular, histone (H3) and ribosomal proteins (L13) were obviously influenced under ZnO NP treatment. However, increased expression levels of h3 and l13 genes were not induced only in ZnO NP treatment, they were sensitive to Zn ions under the same exposure concentration. These results indicate that the three zinc substances have a similar mode of action and that released zinc ions are the main contributor to ZnO NP toxicity to D. pulex under a low concentration. Further investigation is needed to clarify whether a small proportion of DEPs or higher bioavailability cause ZnO NPs to be more toxic compared to bulk ZnO or ionic zinc.

Effect of temperature on nickel uptake and elimination in Daphnia magna

It is well known that temperature can affect the ecotoxicity of chemicals (including metals) to aquatic organisms. It was recently reported that nickel (Ni), a priority substance under the European Water Framework directive, showed decreasing chronic toxicity to Daphnia magna with increasing temperature, between 15 and 25 °C. We performed a toxicokinetic study to contribute to an increased mechanistic understanding of this effect. More specifically, we investigated the effect of temperature on Ni uptake and elimination in D. magna (in 4 clones) using an experimental design that included Ni exposures with different stable isotopic composition and using a one-compartment model for data analysis. Both Ni uptake and elimination were affected by temperature, and some clear interclonal differences were observed. On average (across all clones), however, a similar pattern of the effect of temperature was observed on both Ni uptake and elimination, that is, the uptake rate constant (k_u ) and elimination rate constant (k_e ) during 72 h of Ni exposure were lower at 25 than at 19 °C, by 2.6-fold and 1.6-fold, respectively, and they were similar at 19 and 15 °C. This pattern does not correspond to the effects of temperature on chronic Ni toxicity reported previously, suggesting that Ni compartmentalization and/or toxicodynamics may also be affected by temperature. The data gathered with our specific experimental design also allowed us to infer that 1) the k_u was up-regulated over time, that is, the k_u after 2 d of Ni exposure was significantly higher than the initial k_u , by 1.5- to 2.3-fold, and 2) the k_e decreased significantly when the external Ni exposure was stopped, by 1.2- to 1.9-fold. These 2 findings are in contrast with 2 commonly used assumptions in toxicokinetic models, that is, that k_u is constant during exposure and k_e is independent of external exposure. We suggest that future toxicokinetic studies consider these factors in their experimental designs and data analyses. Overall, our study contributes to the growing body of evidence that temperature affects toxicokinetics of metals (and chemicals in general), but at the same time we emphasize that knowledge of toxicokinetics alone is not necessarily sufficient to explain or predict temperature effects on (chronic) toxicity. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:784-793. © 2019 SETAC.

Trophic transfer of CuO nanoparticles from brine shrimp (Artemia salina) nauplii to convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) larvae: uptake, accumulation and elimination

We investigated the trophic transfer potential of CuO-NPs from Artemia salina to Amatitlania nigrofasciata. The Cu uptake was investigated by exposure of the instar II nauplii to 0, 1, 10, and 100 mg/L CuO-NPs for 4 h. Dietborne exposure of fish larvae to CuO-NPs was done for 21 days through feeding with pre-exposed nauplii. Thereafter, all survived fish were fed for 21 more days with non-contaminated nauplii. The results showed that NPs could be taken up by nauplii in a concentration-dependent manner. The highest uptake of Cu by nauplii was found to be 50.5 ± 1.4 mg/g dry weight at 100 mg/L. The copper accumulation in fish larvae increased significantly with increasing Cu content in pre-exposed nauplii to different concentrations of CuO-NPs (p < 0.05). At the end of the depuration phase, although the Cu elimination was significantly higher in fish that were fed with more contaminated nauplii, but the survival rate, average final weight, and length of those larvae was still significantly less than the control group (p < 0.05). The accumulated Cu after the depuration phase in cichlid larvae was 25.4 ± 0.5, 29 ± 8.0, 33.9 ± 9.7, and 42.3 ± 4.0 μg/g dry weight at 0, 1, 10, and 100 mg/L of CuO-NPs-treated Artemia. The current findings indicated the ability of manufactured CuO-NPs to be transferred from one trophic level to the next as assessed in the simple food chain consisting of pre-exposed A. salina and A. nigrofasciata.

Different dynamic accumulation and toxicity of ZnO nanoparticles and ionic Zn in the soil sentinel organism Enchytraeus crypticus

There is still no consensus over the specific effects of metal-based nanoparticles when compared with the conventional metal salts. Here, the accumulation and toxicity of ZnO-NPs and ZnCl₂ in Enchytraeus crypticus over time (1-14 d) were investigated using a sand-solution exposure medium and applying a toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics approach. For both Zn forms, body Zn concentration in the organisms was dependent on both the exposure concentration and exposure time, with equilibrium being reached after 7-14 days of exposure. Generally, the uptake and elimination rate constants (K_u and K_e1) were smaller for ZnO-NPs (5.74-12.6 mg kg^-1d^-1 and 0.17-0.39 d^-1) than for ZnCl₂ (8.32-40.1 mg kg^-1d^-1 and 0.31-2.05 d^-1), suggesting that ionic Zn was more accessible for E. crypticus than nanoparticulate Zn. Based on external exposure concentrations, LC50s for ZnO-NPs and ZnCl₂ decreased with time from 123 to 67 Zn mg L^-1 and from 86 to 62 Zn mg L^-1, reaching an almost similar ultimate value within 14 d. LC50s based on body Zn concentrations were almost constant over time (except for 1 d) for both ZnO-NPs and ZnCl₂, with overall LC50_body of Zn being 1720 and 1306 mg kg^-1 dry body weight, respectively. Body Zn concentration, which considers all available pathways, was a good predictor of dynamic toxicity of ZnCl₂, but not for ZnO-NPs. This may be attributed to the specific internal distribution and detoxification mechanisms of ZnO-NPs. The particles from ZnO-NPs dominated the accumulation (>75%) and toxicity (∼100%). Our results suggest that dynamic aspects should be taken into account when assessing and comparing NPs and metals uptake and consequent patterns of toxicity.

Combined Effects of Test Media and Dietary Algae on the Toxicity of CuO and ZnO Nanoparticles to Freshwater Microcrustaceans Daphnia magna and Heterocypris incongruens: Food for Thought

The chemical composition of the test medium as well as the presence of algae (microcrustaceans' food) affects the bioavailability and thus the toxicity of metal nanoparticles (NP) to freshwater microcrustaceans. This study evaluated the effect of the addition of algae (Rapidocelis subcapitata at 7.5 × 10⁶ cells/mL) on the toxicity of CuO (primary size 22⁻25 nm) and ZnO NP (10⁻15 nm) to planktic Daphnia magna and benthic Heterocypris incongruens in artificial (mineral) and natural freshwater (lake water). The toxicity of ionic controls, CuSO₄ and ZnSO₄, was evaluated in parallel. When algae were added and the toxicity was tested in mineral medium, 48 h EC₅₀ of CuO and ZnO NP to D. magna was ~2 mg metal/L and 6-day LC₅₀ of H. incongruens was 1.1 mg metal/L for CuO and 0.36 mg metal/L for ZnO. The addition of algae to D. magna test medium mitigated the toxicity of CuO and ZnO NP 4⁻11-fold when the test was conducted in natural water but not in the artificial freshwater. The addition of algae mitigated the toxicity of CuSO₄ (but not ZnSO₄) to D. magna at least 3-fold, whatever the test medium. In the 6-day H. incongruens tests (all exposures included algae), only up to 2-fold differences in metal NP and salt toxicity between mineral and natural test media were observed. To add environmental relevance to NP hazard assessment for the freshwater ecosystem, toxicity tests could be conducted in natural water and organisms could be fed during the exposure.

Removal of ZnO Nanoparticles from Natural Waters by Coagulation-Flocculation Process: Influence of Surfactant Type on Aggregation, Dissolution and Colloidal Stability

The zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and surfactants that are widely used in commercial and industrial products lead to the likelihood of their co-occurrence in natural water, making it essential to investigate the effect of surfactants on the fate and mobility of ZnO NPs. The present study seeks to elucidate the effect of an anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and a nonionic nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPEO), on ZnO NPs adsorption, aggregation, dissolution, and removal by the coagulation process. The results indicate that the presence of SDS in ZnO NPs suspension significantly reduced the ζ-potential and hydrodynamic diameter (HDD), while the effect of NPEO was found not to be significant. The sorption of SDS and NPEO by ZnO NPs were fitted with Langmuir model, but the Freundlich isotherm was more suitable for SDS at pH 9.0. Moreover, the adsorption was strongly pH-dependent due to the formation of mono-bilayer patches onto the NPs. The SDS remarkably affect the dissolution and aggregation phenomena of ZnO NPs in natural waters as compared to NPEO. Finally, the coagulation results showed that the removal efficiency of ZnO, Zn2+ and the surfactant in synthetic and wastewaters at optimum ferric chloride (FC) dosage reached around 85–98% and 20–50%, respectively. Coagulation mechanism investigation demonstrated that the cooperation of charge neutralization and adsorptive micellar flocculation (AMF) might play an important role. In summary, this study may provide new insight into the environmental behavior of coexisting ZnO NPs and surfactants in water treatment processes, and it may facilitate their sustainable use in commercial products and processes.

Application of Daphnia magna for Nanoecotoxicity Study

Daphnia magna (D. magna), an aquatic invertebrate, is the most commonly used test organism in ecotoxicological studies on manufactured nanomaterials (MNs). Although standard protocols for undertaking acute and chronic toxicity tests of dissolved chemicals with D. magna have been endorsed by several national and international organizations, comprehensive guidance on aquatic toxicology testing of MNs with D. magna are in their infancy. Here we describe the acute and chronic toxicity methods with D. magna as test organism for nanoecotoxicity study. These methods may provide reference for the next step toward developing prescriptive aquatic toxicity standard tests for MNs with D. magna.

Aggregation, sedimentation, and dissolution of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles in five waters

With the accelerated application of copper oxide (CuO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) in commercial products, concerns about the potential impacts on the environment have been growing. Environmental behaviors of NPs are expected to significantly influence their fate and ecological risk in the aquatic environment. In this study, the environmental behaviors of two metallic NPs (CuO and ZnO NPs), including aggregation, sedimentation, and dissolution, were systematically evaluated in five representative waters (pool water, lake water, rainwater, tap water, and wastewater) with varying properties. Remarkable aggregation, sedimentation, and dissolution were observed for both metallic NPs, among which ZnO NPs exhibited greater influence. CuO (ZnO) NPs aggregated to 400 (500) nm, 500 (900) nm, and 800 (1500) nm in lake water, wastewater, and tap water, respectively. The sedimentation rates of CuO and ZnO NPs in the five waters were ranked as tap water > wastewater > lake water > pool water > rainwater. The dissolution of CuO and ZnO NPs in waters follows a first-order reaction rate model and is affected by ionic type, ionic strength (IS), and NOM (natural organic matter) concentrations. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that the aggregation and sedimentation of NPs have a strong correlation, insofar as the sedimentation rates increase with increasing aggregation rates. The aggregation and dissolution of NPs have a negative correlation, insofar as the dissolution rates reduce with increasing aggregation rates. The aggregation, sedimentation, and dissolution of NPs can be influenced by ionic types, IS, and TOC in waters, among which, TOC may the dominant factor.

Thermal evolution offsets the elevated toxicity of a contaminant under warming: A resurrection study in Daphnia magna

Synergistic interactions between temperature and contaminants are a major challenge for ecological risk assessment, especially under global warming. While thermal evolution may increase the ability to deal with warming, it is unknown whether it may also affect the ability to deal with the many contaminants that are more toxic at higher temperatures. We investigated how evolution of genetic adaptation to warming affected the interactions between warming and a novel stressor: zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) in a natural population of Daphnia magna using resurrection ecology. We hatched resting eggs from two D. magna subpopulations (old: 1955-1965, recent: 1995-2005) from the sediment of a lake that experienced an increase in average temperature and in recurrence of heat waves but was never exposed to industrial waste. In the old "ancestral" subpopulation, exposure to a sublethal concentration of nZnO decreased the intrinsic growth rate, metabolic activity, and energy reserves at 24°C but not at 20°C, indicating a synergism between warming and nZnO. In contrast, these synergistic effects disappeared in the recent "derived" subpopulation that evolved a lower sensitivity to nZnO at 24°C, which indicates that thermal evolution could offset the elevated toxicity of nZnO under warming. This evolution of reduced sensitivity to nZnO under warming could not be explained by changes in the total internal zinc accumulation but was partially associated with the evolution of the expression of a key metal detoxification gene under warming. Our results suggest that the increased sensitivity to the sublethal concentration of nZnO under the predicted 4°C warming by the end of this century may be counteracted by thermal evolution in this D. magna population. Our results illustrate the importance of evolution to warming in shaping the responses to another anthropogenic stressor, here a contaminant. More general, genetic adaptation to an environmental stressor may ensure that synergistic effects between contaminants and this environmental stressor will not be present anymore.

Comparative assessment of toxicity of ZnO and amine-functionalized ZnO nanorods toward Daphnia magna in acute and chronic multigenerational tests

Zinc oxide nanomaterials (ZnO NM) have been used in a large number of applications due to their interesting physicochemical properties. However, the increasing use of ZnO NM has led to concerns regarding their environmental impacts. In this study, the acute and chronic toxicity of ZnO nanorods (NR) bare (ZnONR) and amine-functionalized (ZnONR@AF) toward the freshwater microcrustacean Daphnia magna was evaluated. The ZnO NR were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and the zeta potential and hydrodynamic diameter (HD). The acute EC50_(48h) values for D. magna revealed that the ZnONR@AF were more toxic than the ZnONR. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed in both NM. Regarding the chronic toxicity, the ZnONR@AF were again found to be more toxic than the ZnONR toward D. magna. An effect on longevity was observed for ZnONR, while ZnONR@AF affected the reproduction, growth and longevity. In the multigenerational recovery test, we observed that maternal exposure can affect the offspring even when these organisms are not directly exposed to the ZnO NR.

Nanotoxicity modelling and removal efficiencies of ZnONP

In this paper the aim is to investigate the toxic effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and is to analyze the removal of ZnONP in aqueous medium by the consortium consisted of Daphnia magna and Lemna minor. Three separate test groups are formed: L. minor ([Formula: see text]), D. magna ([Formula: see text]), and L. minor + D. magna ([Formula: see text]) and all these test groups are exposed to three different nanoparticle concentrations ([Formula: see text]). Time-dependent, concentration-dependent, and group-dependent removal efficiencies are statistically compared by non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test and statistically significant differences are observed. The optimum removal values are observed at the highest concentration [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text]and [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] and realized at [Formula: see text] for all test groups [Formula: see text]. There is no statistically significant differences in removal at low concentrations [Formula: see text] in terms of groups but [Formula: see text] test groups are more efficient than [Formula: see text] test groups in removal of ZnONP, at [Formula: see text] concentration. Regression analysis is also performed for all prediction models. Different models are tested and it is seen that cubic models show the highest predicted values (R²). In toxicity models, R² values are obtained at (0.892, 0.997) interval. A simple solution-phase method is used to synthesize ZnO nanoparticles. Dynamic Light Scattering and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) are used to detect the particle size of synthesized ZnO nanoparticles.

Comparison on the effects of water-borne and dietary-borne accumulated ZnO nanoparticles on Daphnia magna

Nanoparticles (NPs) can exert toxicity to aquatic animals through water and dietary exposure. However, little is known about the contribution of the two exposure pathways to the total toxicity of NPs to aquatic animals. In the present study, we fed Daphnia magna with ZnO NPs-accumulated-algae or directly exposed them to ZnO NPs suspension at the same Zn concentration. The body Zn concentrations were the same in both treatments, but the surface elastic modulus in the water-borne group was lower than that in the dietary-borne group, indicating more severe surface damage in the water-borne treatment. Total egg numbers of the first brood in both Zn treatments were significantly lower than the control, but they were not significantly different between the two treatments. However, the first brood in the water-borne treatment was distinctly delayed than that in the dietary-borne group. The dietary-borne treatment suppressed the expression of Hem and SOD genes. The water-borne treatment significantly suppressed the expression of Pro, SOD, VTG, but increased the GST expression. In particular, the expression of Pro, a gene functions in modulation of cell multiplication, was lower in the water-borne treatment, which might be related to the suppression of body growth in D. magna. The expression of SOD in the water-borne treatment decreased by about four times in comparison with the dietary-borne treatment, and the SOD enzyme activity of the water-borne treatment was significantly lower than that of the dietary-borne treatment. These results indicate that the two exposure routes have different targets and responding toxic mechanisms.

Evaluation of the effect of test medium on total Cu body burden of nano CuO-exposed Daphnia magna: A TXRF spectroscopy study

Toxicity of Cu and Cu-based nanoparticles (NPs) to aquatic biota is usually mitigated in natural freshwater compared to organics-free artificial freshwater. The main aim of this study was to evaluate whether mitigated toxicity is accompanied by lower total copper body burden in the freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna and whether CuO NPs are more hazardous in this aspect than soluble Cu salts. Total copper body burden in different media (OECD202 artificial freshwater and two natural freshwaters) was measured by a relatively novel technique - total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectroscopy - which proved suitable for the analysis of individual juvenile daphnids. Mean copper body burden was 2.8-42 times higher in daphnids exposed to CuO NPs (0.05 mg Cu/L and 1 mg Cu/L) than in daphnids exposed to equal or equitoxic concentrations (0.025 mg Cu/L and 0.05 mg Cu/L) of CuSO₄. Using natural freshwater instead of artificial one resulted in increased copper burden after exposure to CuO NPs but not after exposure to Cu salt. After 24 h post-exposure depuration in the presence of algae Raphidocelis subcapitata, total copper body burden in daphnids exposed to CuO NPs sharply decreased while in daphnids exposed to Cu salt it did not. Despite the CuO NP toxicity mitigating effect of natural freshwater, total copper body burden of aquatic crustaceans in natural waterbodies may be greater than could be predicted based on the results obtained using artificial freshwater as the test medium.

Transformation and bioavailability of metal oxide nanoparticles in aquatic and terrestrial environments. A review

Metal oxide nanoparticles (MeO-NPs) are among the most consumed NPs and also have wide applications in various areas which increased their release into the environmental system. Aquatic (water and sediments) and terrestrial compartments are predicted to be the destination of the released MeO-NPs. In these compartments, the particles are subjected to various dynamic processes such as physical, chemical and biological processes, and undergo transformations which drive them away from their pristine state. These transformation pathways can have strong implications for the fate, transport, persistence, bioavailability and toxic-effects of the NPs. In this critical review, we provide the state-of-the-knowledge on the transformation processes and bioavailability of MeO-NPs in the environment, which is the topic of interest to researchers. We also recommend future research directions in the area which will support future risk assessments by enhancing our knowledge of the transformation and bioavailability of MeO-NPs.

Toxicity, uptake, and accumulation of nano and bulk cerium oxide particles in Artemia salina

Although the toxicological impact of metal oxide nanoparticles has been studied for the last few decades on aquatic organisms, the exact mechanism of action is still unclear. The fate, behavior, and biological activity of nanoparticles are dependent on physicochemical factors like size, shape, surface area, and stability in the medium. This study deals with the effect of nano and bulk CeO₂ particles on marine microcrustacean, Artemia salina. The primary size was found to be 15 ± 3.5 and 582 ± 50 nm for nano and bulk CeO₂ (TEM), respectively. The colloidal stability and sedimentation assays showed rapid aggregation of bulk particles in seawater. Both the sizes of CeO₂ particles inhibited the hatching rate of brine shrimp cyst. Nano CeO₂ was found to be more toxic to A. salina (48 h LC₅₀ 38.0 mg/L) when compared to bulk CeO₂ (48 h LC₅₀ 92.2 mg/L). Nano CeO₂-treated A. salina showed higher oxidative stress (ROS) than those treated with the bulk form. The reduction in the antioxidant activity indicated an increase in oxidative stress in the cells. Higher acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) was observed upon exposure to nano and bulk CeO₂ particles. The uptake and accumulation of CeO₂ particles were increased with respect to the concentration and particle size. Thus, the above results revealed that nano CeO₂ was more lethal to A. salina as compared to bulk particles.

Uptake and toxicity of CuO nanoparticles to Daphnia magna varies between indirect dietary and direct waterborne exposures

Research examining the direct and indirect ecological effects of nanomaterials in aquatic ecosystems is important for developing a more realistic understanding of the environmental implications of nanotechnology. Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are being used extensively in many industries but are considered highly toxic to aquatic species residing in surface waters. Few studies have addressed whether CuO NPs can be transferred through the aquatic food chain, and if such indirect exposure to nanomaterials impacts their toxicity. We investigated the uptake and trophic transfer of CuO NPs from the algae Chlorella vulgaris to the crustacean Daphnia magna and assessed bio-partitioning and resulting toxicity. We hypothesized that CuO NPs can be associated with algal cells and be transported to predators through feeding, and that the chronic toxicity can be altered in comparison to direct CuO NP exposure. For the indirect feeding exposure, algae pre-incubated with CuO NPs (Cu-algae) were washed to remove loose NPs and fed to D. magna while Cu uptake and toxicity were evaluated. For the direct waterborne exposures, a parallel group of D. magna were exposed to equivalent concentrations of CuO NPs while being fed unexposed algae. Using hyperspectral imaging we observed strong surface associations between pre-incubated CuO NPs and algae used in the feeding exposure, and quantified the average Cu content (0.15mg Cu/L) with ICP-OES. Cu accumulated in daphnid bodies to a greater extent in direct exposures, whereas molted carapaces and neonate offspring had more copper following the indirect feeding exposure, implying that D. magna may regulate internal Cu differently depending on the method of CuO NP delivery. Significantly higher D. magna mortality was observed following direct exposure relative to feeding exposure, and neonate production from adult daphnids exposed indirectly to CuO NPs was significantly reduced. Thus, nanoparticle interaction with biota at one trophic level may alter the biological response at the next trophic level in a way that is dependent on the delivery scenario. This study highlights the importance of evaluating potential ecological impacts of nanomaterials in more relevant, complex exposure scenarios.

Influence of daylight on the fate of silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles in natural aquatic environments

Nanoparticles, such as silver (Ag-NP) and zinc oxide (ZnO-NP), are increasingly used in many consumer products. These nanoparticles (NPs) will likely be exposed to the aquatic environment (rain, river, lake water) and to light (visible and UV) in the products where they are applied, or after those products are discharged. Dissolution of Ag-NP and ZnO-NP is an important process because the dissolved Ag⁺ and Zn²⁺ are readily available and toxic for aquatic organisms. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of daylight (UV and visible) for the fate of engineered Ag-NP and ZnO-NPs in different types of natural waters. Ag-NP and ZnO-NP were exposed to rainwater, river Rhine, and lake waters (Greifen, Lucerne, Cristallina, Gruère) under different light conditions (no light, UV 300-400 nm and visible light 400-700 nm) for up to 8 days. Stronger agglomeration of Ag-NP was observed in the waters with higher ionic strength in comparison to those with lower ionic strength. Visible light tended to increase the dissolution of Ag-NP under most natural water conditions in comparison to dark conditions, whereas UV-light led to decreased dissolved Ag⁺ after longer exposure time. These effects illustrate the dynamic interactions of Ag-NP with light, which may lead both to increased oxidation and to increased reduction of Ag⁺ by organic compounds under UV-light. In the case of ZnO-NP, agglomeration occurred at higher ionic strength, but the effects of pH were predominant for dissolution, which occurred up to concentrations close to the solubility limit of ZnO(s) at pH around 8.2 and to nearly complete dissolution of ZnO-NP at lower pH (pH 4.8-6.5), with both visible and UV-light facilitating dissolution. This study thus shows that light conditions play an important role in the dissolution processes of nanoparticles.

Transport, fate, and long-term impacts of metal oxide nanoparticles on the stability of an anaerobic methanogenic system with anaerobic granular sludge

The fate and long-term effect of different metal oxide (TiO₂, CuO and ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) on anaerobic granular sludge (AGS) was evaluated in an anaerobic methanogenic system. Operation stability and structural characteristics of the granules were compared, the metabolism changes in the microbial community were quantified, and NPs fate were investigated. CuO NPs had greatest toxic effect on AGS after extended exposure, whereas ZnO NPs benefited methanogenesis temporarily (no more than 5d). The inhibition on AGS caused by NPs varied due to the unique structure of AGS and different toxic mechanism. Structural changes of AGS provided new evidence that tested NPs have different toxicity.

Time-Dependent Toxicity Responses in Daphnia magna Exposed to CuO and ZnO Nanoparticles

Aggregation and dissolution of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) increased with increasing exposure time (24, 48, and 72 h). Acute toxicity of CuO NPs to Daphnia magna also increased significantly with increasing exposure time (p < 0.05), whereas exposure time did not significantly affect acute toxicity of ZnO NPs. The dissolved Cu concentration of CuO NPs was much lower than the median effective concentration (EC₅₀) value (44 μg L^-1 at 72 h), implying that the increase in acute toxicity was caused by particles rather than by dissolved ions. However, the dissolved Zn concentration of ZnO NPs was higher than the EC₅₀ value (600 μg L^-1 at 72 h), suggesting this acute toxicity may be caused by dissolved ions. Moreover, CuO NPs induced greater lipid peroxidation than Cu ions did at an exposure time of 72 h, whereas converse results were observed for ZnO NPs.

Effect of surfactants on the aggregation and sedimentation of zinc oxide nanomaterial in natural water matrices

The wide application of surfactants and engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in industrial and consumer products lead to the high possibility of their co-presence in natural water environment, making it important to study the effect of surfactants on the environmental behavior and fate of ENMs. In this work, we selected an anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and a nonionic nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPEO, Tergitol NP-9) to study their effects on the aggregation and sedimentation of a 20nm ZnO ENM in different water matrices. The adsorption of SDS and NP-9 by ZnO ENM were fitted with Langmuir model, and the maximum adsorption capacities were 43.73±4.62mg/g and 13.79±1.09 respectively. As the surfactant concentration increased from 0 to 0.030% (m:v), SDS reduced the zeta potential of ZnO ENM from 17.56±2.13 to -27.96±2.59mV, whereas NP-9 did not affect the zeta potential. After a 24-h batch reactor experiment, SDS and NP-9 reduced 93.02% and 80.26% of the aggregate size of ZnO ENM (50mgL^-1) in maximum at surfactant concentrations≥0.015%. The ZnO ENM was not stable in natural aqueous matrices, mainly because of the relatively high ionic strength. However, surfactants were found to reduce the aggregation and sedimentation of ZnO ENM in six natural water matrices in different degrees. With the presence of 0.030% SDS in tap water, maximum reduction rates of aggregate size and sedimentation were recorded as 69.54% and 26.69%, respectively. The results of this study indicate that the presence of surfactants may alter the behaviors and fate of ENMs in natural water environment.

Relative Contributions of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles and Dissolved Copper to Cu Uptake Kinetics of Gulf Killifish (Fundulus grandis) Embryos

The toxicity of soluble metal-based nanomaterials may be due to the uptake of metals in both dissolved and nanoparticulate forms, but the relative contributions of these different forms to overall metal uptake rates under environmental conditions are not quantitatively defined. Here, we investigated the linkage between the dissolution rates of copper(II) oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) and their bioavailability to Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis) embryos, with the aim of quantitatively delineating the relative contributions of nanoparticulate and dissolved species for Cu uptake. Gulf killifish embryos were exposed to dissolved Cu and CuO NP mixtures comprising a range of pH values (6.3-7.5) and three types of natural organic matter (NOM) isolates at various concentrations (0.1-10 mg-C L^-1), resulting in a wide range of CuO NP dissolution rates that subsequently influenced Cu uptake. First-order dissolution rate constants of CuO NPs increased with increasing NOM concentration and for NOM isolates with higher aromaticity, as indicated by specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA), while Cu uptake rate constants of both dissolved Cu and CuO NP decreased with NOM concentration and aromaticity. As a result, the relative contribution of dissolved Cu and nanoparticulate CuO species for the overall Cu uptake rate was insensitive to NOM type or concentration but largely determined by the percentage of CuO that dissolved. These findings highlight SUVA and aromaticity as key NOM properties affecting the dissolution kinetics and bioavailability of soluble metal-based nanomaterials in organic-rich waters. These properties could be used in the incorporation of dissolution kinetics into predictive models for environmental risks of nanomaterials.

Mechanisms underlying the enhancement of toxicity caused by the coincubation of zinc oxide and copper nanoparticles in a fish hepatoma cell line

Ecosystems are exposed to a wide variety of individual substances, including at the nano-scale; and the potential adverse effects of their interactions are an increasing concern. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) at a no-observed-effect concentration modulate the cytotoxicity of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) in the fish hepatoma cell line PLHC-1 after 48 h of exposure and the contribution of the released ions to these effects. Cells were exposed to 50-nm CuNPs (0.39-25.0 µg/mL), alone or in combination with ZnONPs (25 nm or 100 nm), at 6.25 µg/mL. Cells were exposed to suspensions of NPs or to their supernatants, as well as to their combinations. The effects on cell viability were assessed through cytotoxicity assays. Changes in cell morphology and metal internalization were also evaluated. The cytotoxicity exerted by CuNPs was enhanced in the presence of nontoxic concentrations of ZnONPs. On the contrary, Zn ions protected the cell line from the CuNP toxicity, this effect being related to an increase in the intracellular levels of Zn. This increase of metal was not observed in cells exposed to both ZnONPs and CuNPs, even when they were visualized inside the cell. The results indicated that the internalization of ZnONPs, but not the Zn ions, was responsible for the enhanced toxicity of the CuNPs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2562-2570. © 2016 SETAC.

TiO2 Nanoparticle Uptake by the Water Flea Daphnia magna via Different Routes is Calcium-Dependent

Calcium plays versatile roles in aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we investigated its effects on the uptake of polyacrylate-coated TiO2 nanoparticles (PAA-TiO2-NPs) by the water flea (cladoceran) Daphnia magna. Particle distribution in these daphnids was also visualized using synchrotron radiation-based micro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. At low ambient Ca concentrations in the experimental medium ([Ca]dis), PAA-TiO2-NPs were well dispersed and distributed throughout the daphnid; the particle concentration was highest in the abdominal zone and the gut, as a result of endocytosis and passive drinking of the nanoparticles, respectively. Further, Ca induced PAA-TiO2-NP uptake as a result of the increased Ca influx. At a high [Ca]dis, the PAA-TiO2-NPs formed micrometer-sized aggregates that were ingested by D. magna and concentrated only in its gut, independent of the Ca influx. Our results demonstrated the multiple effects of Ca on nanoparticle bioaccumulation. Specifically, well-dispersed nanoparticles were taken up by D. magna through endocytosis and passive drinking whereas the uptake of micrometer-sized aggregates relied on active ingestion.

Synthesis, characterization and toxicological evaluation of Cr₂O₃ nanoparticles using Daphnia magna and Aliivibrio fischeri

Chromium III oxide (Cr2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) are used in pigments for ceramics, dyes, paints and cosmetics. However, few studies addressing the toxic potential of these NPs have been reported in the literature. Thus, this research aimed to evaluate the acute and chronic effects of Cr2O3 NPs through acute toxicity tests with Daphnia magna and Aliivibrio fischeri and chronic toxicity tests with Daphnia magna. Cr2O3 NPs were synthesized by the sol-gel method and characterized through TEM, X-Ray diffraction (XRD), zeta potential (ZP) and surface area analysis. In the acute toxicity tests the EC(50,48h) value obtained with D. magna was 6.79 mg L(-1) and for A. fischeri the EC(50,15min) value was 16.10 mg L(-1) and the EC(50,30min) value was 12.91 mg L(-1). Regarding the chronic toxicity tests with D. magna, effects on longevity (OEC=1.00 mg L(-1)), reproduction (OEC=1.00 mg L(-1)) and growth (OEC=0.50 mg L(-1)) were observed. On the SEM and TEM images, ultrastructural alterations in the organelles of exposed organisms were also observed. Thus, toxicological studies with NPs are of great importance in order to reduce the risk of environmental contamination.

The Transcriptomic Response of Arabidopsis thaliana to Zinc Oxide: A Comparison of the Impact of Nanoparticle, Bulk, and Ionic Zinc

The impact of nanosize was evaluated by comparing of the transcriptomic response of Arabidopsis thaliana roots to ZnO nanoparticles (nZnO), bulk ZnO, and ionic Zn(2+). Microarray analyses revealed 416 up- and 961 down-regulated transcripts (expression difference >2-fold, p [FDR] < 0.01) after a seven-day treatment with nZnO (average particle size 20 nm, concentration 4 mg L(-1)). Exposure to bulk ZnO resulted in 816 up- and 2179 down-regulated transcripts. The most dramatic changes (1711 transcripts up- and 3242 down-regulated) were caused by the presence of ionic Zn(2+) (applied as ZnSO4.7H20 at a concentration of 14.14 mg L(-1), corresponding to the amount of Zn contained in 4 mg L(-1) ZnO). Genes involved in stress response (e.g., to salt, osmotic stress or water deprivation) were the most relatively abundant group of gene transcripts up-regulated by all three Zn treatments while genes involved in cell organization and biogenesis (e.g., tubulins, arabinogalactan proteins) and DNA or RNA metabolism (e.g., histones) were the most relatively abundant groups of down-regulated transcripts. The similarity of the transcription profiles and the increasing number of changed transcripts correlating with the increased concentration of Zn(2+) in cultivation medium indicated that released Zn(2+) may substantially contribute to the toxic effect of nZnO because particle size has not demonstrated a decisive role.