Bioaccumulation, Subacute Toxicity, and Tissue Distribution of Engineered Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles in Goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Abstract

The increased use of nano-sized materials is likely to result in the release of these particles into the environment. It is, however, unclear if these materials are harmful to aquatic animals. In this study, the sub-lethal effects of exposure of low and high concentrations of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) on goldfish (Carassius auratus) were investigated. Tissues, including intestine, gills, muscle, and brain were analyzed for Ti content by ICP-MS. Accumulation of TiO2 NPs increased from 42.71 to 110.68 ppb in the intestine and from 4.10 to 9.86 ppb in the gills of the goldfish with increasing exposure dose from 10 to 100 mg/L TiO2 NPs. No significant accumulation in the muscle and brain of the fish was detected. Malondialdehyde (MDA) as a biomarker of lipid oxidation was detected in the liver of the goldfish. Moreover, TiO2 NPs exposure inhibited growth of the goldfish. Although there was an increase (8.1%) in the body weights of the goldfish for the control group, in the low and high exposure groups 1.8% increase and 19.7 % decrease were measured respectively.

In vitro exposure of haemocytes of the clam Ruditapes philippinarum to titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles: Nanoparticle characterisation, effects on phagocytic activity and internalisation of nanoparticles into haemocytes

“…The specific surface area evaluated by BET is also in agreement with the specifications for P25. TiO 2 NPs are highly hydrophobic; therefore, they aggregate strongly in aqueous solutions (Ates et al, 2013), as confirmed by our observations.…”

“…In bivalves, NPs are filtered by the gills, directed to the digestive gland, and subsequently translocated in the haemolymph and the haemocytes (Browne et al, 2008;Canesi et al, 2012). Both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that n-TiO 2 -in the low mg/l range -caused adverse effects on various aquatic organisms (Canesi et al, 2010;Menard et al, 2011;Couleau et al, 2012;Ates et al, 2013). n-TiO 2 can also affect different parameters of bivalve immunocytes, both in vitro and in vivo (Canesi et al, 2010;Colau et al, 2012;Barmo et al, 2013).…”

Toxicity, bioaccumulation and biomagnification of silver nanoparticles in green algae (Chlorellasp.), water flea (Moina macrocopa), blood worm (Chironomusspp.) and silver barb (Barbonymus gonionotus)

“…This finding was consistent with the study Scown et al, (2010) who reported that silver nano particles were found in the gills and livers of fish such as Oncorhynchus mykiss. The study of Ates et al, 2013 using an in vitro model to determine the possible uptake of TiO 2 NPs in the gill, intestine, muscle, and brain of the goldfish showed that very small amount of nanoparticles (< 5 ppb) accumulated in the muscle of the goldfish (Carassius auratus). The accumulation of NPs in fish muscle could occur if fish were exposed to NPs for longer times.…”

Nanoparticle size and combined toxicity of TiO2 and DSLS (surfactant) contribute to lysosomal responses in digestive cells of mussels exposed to TiO2 nanoparticles

“…Most of the studies on bioaccumulation and biological effects exerted by TiO 2 NPs have been conducted in freshwater species (Griffitt et al, 2008;Ates et al, 2013b); whereas few recent studies have addressed marine J U S T A C C E P T E D Nanotoxicology species (Klaine et al, 2008;Ates et al, 2013a;Barmo et al, 2013;Canesi et al, 2014;.…”