Journal
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY C-TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY
Volume 257, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2022.109355
Keywords
Nanoparticles; Earthworm; Coelomocytes; Lipid peroxidation; Phenoloxidase
Funding
- Talented Researcher Support Programme - PlanGenT of the Generalitat Valenciana [CIDEGENT/2020/043]
- Generalitat Valenciana
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study assessed the toxicity of silver sulfide nanoparticles (Ag2S NPs) on earthworms and conducted biomarker tests on their immune effector cells. The results showed a slight weight loss in the earthworms but no mortality effects were observed. Although the Ag2S NPs did not significantly affect lipid peroxidation and phenoloxidase activity in the earthworm cells, an imbalance in nitric oxide generation was detected.
The massive production and use of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) have led to their increasing release into the environment. Even though the antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects of native nanoparticles have been well studied, the environmental impacts of transformation products such as silver sulfide nanoparticles (Ag2S NPs) have not been elucidated. In the present study, we assessed the toxicity of Ag2S NPs and silver nitrate (AgNO3), as a source of Ag, to the earthworm Eisenia andrei using a nominal concentration of 5 mg Ag kg-1 soil. We used the OECD guidelines to assess effects on weight loss and mortality for 14 days. After exposure, we also extracted the immune effector cells (coelomocytes) and conducted a battery of biomarker tests. To ensure the quality of the toxicological results, the structural changes of NPs during the experiment and the uptake of silver by the earthworms were monitored. During the experiment, mortality effects were not detected, but a weight loss was observed in the earthworms exposed to Ag2S NPs. Altough Ag2S NPs were engulfed by E. andrei cells, neither phenoloxidase activity nor lipid peroxidation differed from the untreated control group. Cells from earthworms treated with Ag2S NPs exerted very broad value range of nitric oxide (NO) generation, suggesting an imbalance in the NO metabolism. Overall, this study suggests minimal risks associated with Ag2S NPs exposure to earthworms. However, further studies are needed to assure no immunotoxicological or chronic effects on a wider range of terrestrial organisms.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available