Micronucleus testing and nuclear abnormalities in freshwater organisms exposed acutely and chronically to titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Freshwater invertebrates are widely accepted models for ecotoxicological testing due to their global distribution, high abundance, high reproduction rates, short life cycles, rapid adaptation to laboratory conditions and high sensitivity to contaminants, including metal-based nanoparticles. Crusher invertebrates play a key role in the food chain of plant detritus in low-order forest rivers, transferring carbon and energy from the material to higher trophic. These disposers are very sensitive to water quality. Therefore, in this study, the objective was to investigate the responses of these shredder invertebrates to various metal-based nano particles in a sublethal exposure through water and food. The objectives of this work were centered on: evaluating the toxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, erbium-doped titanium dioxide, and cobalt ferrites in aquatic fungi; check through antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, glutathione s-transferase and glutathione peroxidase, oxidative stress at the cellular level; test potential toxic effects at higher trophic levels using detritivorous invertebrates.