Abstract
The potential of environmental release enhances with increased commercial applications of the nanomaterials. In this work, a simple and efficient test to estimate the acute toxicity of nanoparticles is carried out on Artemia species and their hatching rates. We have tested six different engineered nanoparticles (silver, gold, copper oxide, zinc oxide, TiO2 and SiO2 nanoparticles) and three soluble salts (CuSO4, ZnSO4 and AgNO3) on Artemia sp. The physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles involved in this study were analyzed in normal water and marine water. Hydrated and bleached Artemia cysts were allowed to hatch in continuously aerated, filtered sterile salt water containing nanoparticles; hatching of viable nauplii and total hatchlings have been recorded. In parallel, standard Artemia toxicity test was conducted on the nauplii monitoring the viability. In hatching experiments, a reduction in hatching rate was observed along with mortality of newly hatched nauplii. The results of the hatching experiment and of the standard Artemia test showed a good correlation. The toxicity of the nanoparticles was compared and the order of toxicity was estimated as Ag>CuO>ZnO>Au>TiO2>SiO2. The study thus suggests that the hatching test itself is a reliable assay for determining the toxicity of nanomaterials.
Highlights
Nanomaterials with their ever-expanding diversity, unique properties and endless applications pose risk to environment and human health
Measurement of particle size by dynamic light scattering (DLS) which allows examination of particles sizes as well as aggregates when in suspension revealed that nanoparticles exhibited different aggregation profiles in milliQ water (mQW) and SW
We found a strong correlation in hatching rates and larval mortality in various nanoparticle suspensions (Fig. 6)
Summary
Nanomaterials with their ever-expanding diversity, unique properties and endless applications pose risk to environment and human health. There is a dearth of information on the impact or the risk of nanoscale objects to the environment. Increasing utility would mean enhanced exposure of the ecosystems to these unknown risks. Their release into the environment may start with production, during their applications, by weathering and through wastes. Nanomaterials can be designed from almost any material—metal/oxides, carbon, organic, biomaterial etc., and in any form, by strictly adhering to the size range of nanometer at least in one dimension. Nanomaterials behave differently from the bulk due to their unique physicochemical properties.
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