Abstract
The aim of this project was to compare cerium oxide and silver particles of different sizes for their potential for uptake by aquatic species, human exposure via ingestion of contaminated food sources and to assess their resultant toxicity. The results demonstrate the potential for uptake of nano and larger particles by fish via the gastrointestinal tract, and by human intestinal epithelial cells, therefore suggesting that ingestion is a viable route of uptake into different organism types. A consistency was also shown in the sensitivity of aquatic, fish cell and human cell models to Ag and CeO2 particles of different sizes; with the observed sensitivity sequence from highest to lowest as: nano-Ag > micro Ag > nano CeO2 = micro CeO2. Such consistency suggests that further studies might allow extrapolation of results between different models and species.
Highlights
Nanotechnology includes the production of nanoparticles (NPs), defined as particles with three dimensions of less than 100 nm [1]
The results clearly show that silver particles are more toxic than CeO2 particles in a variety of model species and cell types
Compared to CeO2, Ag particles caused a higher mortality in the aquatic invertebrate D. magna and are more cytotoxic to both trout primary hepatocytes and human hepatocyte cell lines in vitro
Summary
Nanotechnology includes the production of nanoparticles (NPs), defined as particles with three dimensions of less than 100 nm [1] Due to their small size, NPs exhibit greater specific surface areas and surface energies, quantum related effects and generally increased surface reactivity than those of the corresponding conventional (larger) forms, leading to vastly different properties. For these reasons NPs are being increasingly employed in a variety of consumer products, including paints, cosmetics, medicines, food and suntan lotions. Zerovalent iron NPs, have been shown to remove oxygen from and alter pH ground-waters, important deleterious effects resulting in unanticipated environmental impacts.
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