RETRACTED: Effects of nanometer-sized silver materials on survival response of Caspian roach (Rutilus rutilus caspicus)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of nanosilver as potentially dangerous additives to assess the mortality effects of this nanotechnology product on one of the valuable and important species of Caspian Sea. We comparedthetoxicity ofdifferent sizedsilver nanoparticles(AgNPs)whicharebeingwidelyusedwith Iranian consumersduetoitsuniqueantimicrobialactivity.EcotoxicassessmentsofAgNPsfrom twoIraniancompaniesof nanotechnology (Nanocid1: average particle size of 18 nm and Nanosil1: average particle size of < 100 nm) and silver salt (AgSO4) were conducted on the Caspian roach (Rutilus rutilus caspicus). Fish were exposed to technical dosesofNanocid (0,0.01,0.1, 0.5,1, 2.5 and 5 ppm),nominal doses ofNanosil(0,0.2, 2,20, 50, 100and 200ppm) and technical doses of silver sulfate (0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 2 ppm). The median lethal concentration (LC50) wasdeterminedwithprobiteanalysis.Theestimated96-hLC50values(95%confidencelimits)forNanocid,Nanosil andsilversaltwere0.028(0.017-0.046), 41.799(32.314-52.139)and0.003(0.001-0.006)ppm,respectively.LC50 ofsilverinsilversaltwaslowerthanotherproducts.Thepresentstudydemonstratesthatnano-Agwasseentobe less toxic than dissolved Ag þ toCaspianroach.Basedontheresultsofthisstudy,itissuggestedthatindustrial and commercial applications of AgNPs should be more carefully and thoroughly assessed as to their potential toxic effects to the aquatic environment and Caspian roach populations.