Quantifying the effect of nanoparticles on As(V) ecotoxicity exemplified by nano‐Fe₂O₃ (magnetic) and nano‐Al₂O₃

Abstract

Nano-Fe(2) O(3) (magnetic) and nano-Al(2) O(3) are increasingly used in biomedical fields for cellular labeling and drug delivery, and in the industry as catalysts. However, they may also serve as carriers of toxic contaminants and negatively impact the environment and human health. In the present study, Ceriodaphnia dubia was used to assess the toxicity of these nanoparticles (NPs) with and without the presence of background arsenic(V) (As[V]). The results showed that although these NPs alone did not exhibit significant toxicity in the experimental concentration range, they could significantly enhance the toxicity of As(V). The accumulation of As(V) on nano-Fe(2) O(3) (m) and nano-Al(2) O(3) , as well as the uptake of these NPs in C. dubia, were verified. An inverse relationship between the median lethal concentration (LC50) of the soluble As(V) and the accumulation of NPs in C. dubia was developed. Therefore, the uptake of As(V)-loaded NPs in C. dubia played a key role in enhancing As(V) toxicity.

Exploring LA-ICP-MS as a quantitative imaging technique to study nanoparticle uptake in Daphnia magna and zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos

“…The ENP concentration for the two test organisms as determined after acidic digestion by neb-ICP-MS varies from 5 to 130 ng/individual (Table 1 ). Such concentrations are within the range reported in the literature, where 150 ng of Al was found in D. magna exposed to 20 mg/L Al 2 O 3 -NPs [ 33 ] and 30 ng of Au at an exposure concentration of 0.5 mg/L AuNPs [ 34 ]. In addition, Auffan et al [ 25 ] showed total silver concentrations of 60–140 ng/fish embryo after the exposure to 5 mg/L AgNPs.…”

Graphene oxide amplifies the phytotoxicity of arsenic in wheat

“…Compared with that in the control, the application of 0.1 mg/L of GO with As triggered a reduction of shoot length and chlorophyll b contents and a increase of SOD activity. Similarly, when the 24-h mortality of Ceriodaphnia dubia was assessed, 2.4–3.2 mg/L As(V) led to an increase from 2.5–37.5% without nanoparticles to 43–65% in the presence of 10–50 mg/L nano-Al 2 O 3 and nano-Al 2 O 3 34. Given that As contamination is widespread in agricultural plants such as wheat, rice and corn2122, the impact of “indirect” nanotoxicity on food safety should be considered.…”

“…Diuron sorbed onto carbon nanotubes enhances toxicity to Chlorella vulgaris 13. Nano-Fe 2 O 3 /Al 2 O 3 significantly enhances the toxicity and accumulation of arsenic (As) (V) compounds in Ceriodaphnia dubia 14. These results all indicate toxic amplification of toxicants or pollutants by nanomaterials.…”

Adsorption of metal and metalloid ions onto nanoporous microparticles functionalized by atomic layer deposition

“…While high adsorption ability was demonstrated by these studies, these adsorbents were nanosized. These materials are difficult and costly to remove from water after the adsorption process, which may cause a secondary pollution from TiO 2 NPs themselves, or even result in increased toxicity [22,23]. In addition, these reports focused on single element removal, which is not practical in real applications.…”