Research

Jump to: Review

14 pages, 2350 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Acute Aquatic Toxicity to Zebrafish and Bioaccumulation in Marine Mussels of Antimony Tin Oxide Nanoparticles

by Ivone Pinheiro, Monica Quarato, Antonio Moreda-Piñeiro, Ana Vieira, Virginie Serin, David Neumeyer, Nicolas Ratel-Ramond, Sébastien Joulié, Alain Claverie, Miguel Spuch-Calvar, Miguel A. Correa-Duarte, Alexandre Campos, José Carlos Martins, Pilar Bermejo-Barrera, Marisa P. Sarriá, Laura Rodriguez-Lorenzo and Begoña Espiña

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(14), 2112; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13142112 - 20 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1061

Abstract

Antimony tin oxide (Sb₂O₅/SnO₂) is effective in the absorption of infrared radiation for applications, such as skylights. As a nanoparticle (NP), it can be incorporated into films or sheets providing infrared radiation attenuation while allowing for a [...] Read more.

Antimony tin oxide (Sb₂O₅/SnO₂) is effective in the absorption of infrared radiation for applications, such as skylights. As a nanoparticle (NP), it can be incorporated into films or sheets providing infrared radiation attenuation while allowing for a transparent final product. The acute toxicity exerted by commercial Sb₂O₅/SnO₂ (ATO) NPs was studied in adults and embryos of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Our results suggest that these NPs do not induce an acute toxicity in zebrafish, either adults or embryos. However, some sub-lethal parameters were altered: heart rate and spontaneous movements. Finally, the possible bioaccumulation of these NPs in the aquacultured marine mussel Mytilus sp. was studied. A quantitative analysis was performed using single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (sp-ICP-MS). The results indicated that, despite being scarce (2.31 × 10⁶ ± 9.05 × 10⁵ NPs/g), there is some accumulation of the ATO NPs in the mussel. In conclusion, commercial ATO NPs seem to be quite innocuous to aquatic organisms; however, the fact that some of the developmental parameters in zebrafish embryos are altered should be considered for further investigation. More in-depth analysis of these NPs transformations in the digestive tract of humans is needed to assess whether their accumulation in mussels presents an actual risk to humans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment of Engineered Nanomaterials)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1935 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Graphene Oxides (GOs) with Different Lateral Dimensions and Thicknesses Affect the Molecular Response in Chironomus riparius

by Raquel Martin-Folgar, Adrián Esteban-Arranz, Viviana Negri and Mónica Morales

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(6), 967; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13060967 - 07 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1294

Abstract

Graphene oxide (GO) materials possess physicochemical properties that facilitate their application in the industrial and medical sectors. The use of graphene may pose a threat to biota, especially aquatic life. In addition, the properties of nanomaterials can differentially affect cell and molecular responses. [...] Read more.

Graphene oxide (GO) materials possess physicochemical properties that facilitate their application in the industrial and medical sectors. The use of graphene may pose a threat to biota, especially aquatic life. In addition, the properties of nanomaterials can differentially affect cell and molecular responses. Therefore, it is essential to study and define the possible genotoxicity of GO materials to aquatic organisms and their ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the changes in the expression of 11 genes in the aquatic organism Chironomus riparius after 96 h of exposure to small GOs (sGO), large GOs (lGO) and monolayer GOs (mlGO) at 50, 500 and 3000 μg/L. Results showed that the different genes encoding heat shock proteins (hsp90, hsp70 and hsp27) were overexpressed after exposure to these nanomaterials. In addition, ATM and NLK—the genes involved in DNA repair mechanisms—were altered at the transcriptional level. DECAY, an apoptotic caspase, was only activated by larger size GO materials, mlGO and lGO. Finally, the gene encoding manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) showed higher expression in the mlG O-treated larvae. The lGO and mlGO treatments indicated high mRNA levels of a developmental gene (FKBP39) and an endocrine pathway-related gene (DRONC). These two genes were only activated by the larger GO materials. The results indicate that larger and thicker GO nanomaterials alter the transcription of genes involved in cellular stress, oxidative stress, DNA damage, apoptosis, endocrine and development in C. riparius. This shows that various cellular processes are modified and affected, providing some of the first evidence for the action mechanisms of GOs in invertebrates. In short, the alterations produced by graphene materials should be further studied to evaluate their effect on the biota to show a more realistic scenario of what is happening at the molecular level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment of Engineered Nanomaterials)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

22 pages, 7454 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ecotoxicological Properties of Titanium Dioxide Nanomorphologies in Daphnia magna

by Freddy Mendoza-Villa, Noemi-Raquel Checca-Huaman and Juan A. Ramos-Guivar

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(5), 927; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13050927 - 03 Mar 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1756

Abstract

In this work, the structural, vibrational, morphological, and colloidal properties of commercial 15.1 nm TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) and nanowires (NWs, 5.6 thickness, 74.6 nm length) were studied with the purpose of determining their ecotoxicological properties. This was achieved by evaluating acute ecotoxicity [...] Read more.

In this work, the structural, vibrational, morphological, and colloidal properties of commercial 15.1 nm TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) and nanowires (NWs, 5.6 thickness, 74.6 nm length) were studied with the purpose of determining their ecotoxicological properties. This was achieved by evaluating acute ecotoxicity experiments carried out in the environmental bioindicator Daphnia magna, where their 24-h lethal concentration (LC₅₀) and morphological changes were evaluated using a TiO₂ suspension (pH = 7) with point of zero charge at 6.5 for TiO₂ NPs (hydrodynamic diameter of 130 nm) and 5.3 for TiO₂ NWs (hydrodynamic diameter of 118 nm). Their LC₅₀ values were 157 and 166 mg L⁻¹ for TiO₂ NWs and TiO₂ NPs, respectively. The reproduction rate of D. magna after fifteen days of exposure to TiO₂ nanomorphologies was delayed (0 pups for TiO₂ NWs and 45 neonates for TiO₂ NPs) in comparison with the negative control (104 pups). From the morphological experiments, we may conclude that the harmful effects of TiO₂ NWs are more severe than those of 100% anatase TiO₂ NPs, likely associated with brookite (36.5 wt. %) and protonic trititanate (63.5 wt. %) presented in TiO₂ NWs according to Rietveld quantitative phase analysis. Specifically, significant change in the heart morphological parameter was observed. In addition, the structural and morphological properties of TiO₂ nanomorphologies were investigated using X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy techniques to confirm the physicochemical properties after the ecotoxicological experiments. The results reveal that no alteration in the chemical structure, size (16.5 nm for TiO2 NPs and 6.6 thickness and 79.2 nm length for NWs), and composition occurred. Hence, both TiO₂ samples can be stored and reused for future environmental purposes, e.g., water nanoremediation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment of Engineered Nanomaterials)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1446 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Defining Quality Criteria for Nanoplastic Hazard Evaluation: The Case of Polystyrene Nanoplastics and Aquatic Invertebrate Daphnia spp.

by Anita Jemec Kokalj, Margit Heinlaan, Sara Novak, Damjana Drobne and Dana Kühnel

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(3), 536; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13030536 - 28 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1480

Abstract

Polystyrene nanoparticles are the most investigated type of nanoplastics in environmental hazard studies. It remains unclear whether nanoplastic particles pose a hazard towards aquatic organisms. Thus, it was our aim to investigate whether the existing studies and data provided therein are reliable in [...] Read more.

Polystyrene nanoparticles are the most investigated type of nanoplastics in environmental hazard studies. It remains unclear whether nanoplastic particles pose a hazard towards aquatic organisms. Thus, it was our aim to investigate whether the existing studies and data provided therein are reliable in terms of data completeness. We used the example of Daphnia spp. studies for the purpose of polystyrene nanoplastic (nanoPS) hazard evaluation. First, a set of quality criteria recently proposed for nanoplastic ecotoxicity studies was applied. These rather general criteria for all types of nanoplastics and different test organisms were then, in the second step, tailored and refined specifically for Daphnia spp. and nanoPS. Finally, a scoring system was established by setting mandatory (high importance) as well as desirable (medium importance) criteria and defining a threshold to pass the evaluation. Among the existing studies on nanoPS ecotoxicity for Daphnia spp. (n = 38), only 18% passed the evaluation for usability in hazard evaluation. The few studies that passed the evaluation did not allow for conclusions on the hazard potential of nanoPS because there was no consensus among the studies. The greatest challenge we identified is in data reporting, as only a few studies presented complete data for hazard evaluation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment of Engineered Nanomaterials)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1301 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Single and Mixture Toxicity of Boron and Vanadium Nanoparticles in the Soil Annelid Enchytraeus crypticus: A Multi-Biomarker Approach

by Ana Capitão, Joana Santos, Angela Barreto, Mónica J. B. Amorim and Vera L. Maria

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(9), 1478; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12091478 - 27 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2302

Abstract

The increased use and production of new materials has contributed to Anthropocene biodiversity decrease. Therefore, a careful and effective toxicity evaluation of these new materials is crucial. However, environmental risk assessment is facing new challenges due to the specific characteristics of nanomaterials (NMs). [...] Read more.

The increased use and production of new materials has contributed to Anthropocene biodiversity decrease. Therefore, a careful and effective toxicity evaluation of these new materials is crucial. However, environmental risk assessment is facing new challenges due to the specific characteristics of nanomaterials (NMs). Most of the available ecotoxicity studies target the aquatic ecosystems and single exposures of NMs. The present study evaluated Enchytraeus crypticus survival and reproduction (28 days) and biochemical responses (14 days) when exposed to nanoparticles of vanadium (VNPs) and boron (BNPs) (single and mixture; tested concentrations: 10 and 50 mg/kg). Although at the organism level the combined exposures (VNPs + BNPs) did not induce a different toxicity from the single exposures, the biochemical analysis revealed a more complex picture. VNPs presented a higher toxicity than BNPs. VNPs (50 mg/kg), independently of the presence of BNPs (additive or independent effects), caused a decrease in survival and reproduction. However, acetylcholinesterase, glutathione S-transferase, catalase, glutathione reductase activities, and lipid peroxidation levels revealed alterations in neurotoxicity, detoxification and antioxidant responses, depending on the time and type of exposure (single or mixture). The results from this study highlight different responses of the organisms to contaminants in single versus mixture exposures, mainly at the biochemical level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment of Engineered Nanomaterials)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1415 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantification and Ecological Risk Assessment of Colloidal Fullerenes Nanoparticles in Sediments by Ultrasonic-Assisted Pressurized Liquid Extraction and High Performance Liquid Chromatography

by Nokwanda Hendricks, Olatunde Stephen Olatunji and Bhekumuzi Prince Gumbi

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(12), 3319; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11123319 - 07 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2210

Abstract

Fullerenes engineered nanomaterials are regarded as emerging environmental contaminants. This is as their widespread application in many consumer products, as well as natural release, increases their environmental concentration. In this work, an ultrasonic-assisted pressurized liquid extraction (UAPLE) method followed by high performance liquid [...] Read more.

Fullerenes engineered nanomaterials are regarded as emerging environmental contaminants. This is as their widespread application in many consumer products, as well as natural release, increases their environmental concentration. In this work, an ultrasonic-assisted pressurized liquid extraction (UAPLE) method followed by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet-visible detector (HPLC-UV-vis) was developed for extraction and determination of fullerene in sediments. The method was validated and found to be suitable for environmental risk assessment. Thereafter, the method was used for the determination of fullerene (C61-PCBM) in sediment samples collected from Umgeni River, South Africa. The current method allows for adequate sensitivity within the linear range of 0.01–4 µg g⁻¹, method limit detection of 0.0094 µg g⁻¹ and recoveries ranged between 67–84%. All the parameters were determined from fortified sediments samples. The measured environmental concentration (MEC) of fullerene in the sediment samples ranged from not detected to 30.55 µg g⁻¹. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence and ecological risk assessment of carbonaceous fullerene nanoparticles in African sediments and biosolids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment of Engineered Nanomaterials)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

23 pages, 4203 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sea Bass Primary Cultures versus RTgill-W1 Cell Line: Influence of Cell Model on the Sensitivity to Nanoparticles

by Alba Jimeno-Romero, Frederik Gwinner, Michelle Müller, Espen Mariussen, Manu Soto and Yvonne Kohl

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(11), 3136; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11113136 - 20 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2472

Abstract

Determination of acute toxicity to vertebrates in aquatic environments is mainly performed following OECD test guideline 203, requiring the use of a large number of fish and with mortality as endpoint. This test is also used to determine toxicity of nanomaterials in aquatic [...] Read more.

Determination of acute toxicity to vertebrates in aquatic environments is mainly performed following OECD test guideline 203, requiring the use of a large number of fish and with mortality as endpoint. This test is also used to determine toxicity of nanomaterials in aquatic environments. Since a replacement method for animal testing in nanotoxicity studies is desirable, the feasibility of fish primary cultures or cell lines as a model for nanotoxicity screenings is investigated here. Dicentrarchus labrax primary cultures and RTgill-W1 cell line were exposed to several concentrations (0.1 to 200 ug/mL) of different nanoparticles (TiO₂, polystyrene and silver), and cytotoxicity, metabolic activity and reactive oxygen species formation were investigated after 24 and 48 h of exposure. Protein corona as amount of protein bound, as well as the influence of surface modification (-COOH, -NH₂), exposure media (Leibovitz’s L15 or seawater), weathering and cell type were the experimental variables included to test their influence on the results of the assays. Data from all scenarios was split based on the significance each experimental variable had in the result of the cytotoxicity tests, in an exploratory approach that allows for better understanding of the determining factors affecting toxicity. Data shows that more variables significantly influenced the outcome of toxicity tests when the primary cultures were exposed to the different nanoparticles. Toxicity tests performed in RTgill-W1 were influenced only by exposure time and nanoparticle concentration. The whole data set was integrated in a biological response index to show the overall impact of nanoparticle exposures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment of Engineered Nanomaterials)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

22 pages, 1559 KiB

Open AccessReview

Aquatic Environment Exposure and Toxicity of Engineered Nanomaterials Released from Nano-Enabled Products: Current Status and Data Needs

by Mbuyiselwa Shadrack Moloi, Raisibe Florence Lehutso, Mariana Erasmus, Paul Johan Oberholster and Melusi Thwala

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(11), 2868; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11112868 - 27 Oct 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2980

Abstract

Rapid commercialisation of nano-enabled products (NEPs) elevates the potential environmental release of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) along the product life cycle. The current review examined the state of the art literature on aquatic environment exposure and ecotoxicity of product released (PR) engineered nanomaterials (PR–ENMs). [...] Read more.

Rapid commercialisation of nano-enabled products (NEPs) elevates the potential environmental release of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) along the product life cycle. The current review examined the state of the art literature on aquatic environment exposure and ecotoxicity of product released (PR) engineered nanomaterials (PR–ENMs). Additionally, the data obtained were applied to estimate the risk posed by PR–ENMs to various trophic levels of aquatic biota as a means of identifying priority NEPs cases that may require attention with regards to examining environmental implications. Overall, the PR–ENMs are predominantly associated with the matrix of the respective NEPs, a factor that often hinders proper isolation of nano-driven toxicity effects. Nevertheless, some studies have attributed the toxicity basis of observed adverse effects to a combination of the released ions, ENMs and other components of NEPs. Notwithstanding the limitation of current ecotoxicology data limitations, the risk estimated herein points to an elevated risk towards fish arising from fabrics’ PR–nAg, and the considerable potential effects from sunscreens’ PR–nZnO and PR–nTiO₂ to algae, echinoderms, and crustaceans (PR–nZnO), whereas PR–nTiO₂ poses no significant risk to echinoderms. Considering that the current data limitations will not be overcome immediately, we recommend the careful application of similar risk estimation to isolate/prioritise cases of NEPs for detailed characterisation of ENMs’ release and effects in aquatic environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment of Engineered Nanomaterials)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment of Engineered Nanomaterials

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (8 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI