Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Volume 174, Issue -, Pages 134-141Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2012.11.014
Keywords
Gold nanoparticles; Chloroauric acid; Ecotoxicity; Sea water; Bivalve accumulation; Electron microscopy; Ruditapes philippinarum; Cellular location
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Funding
- Junta de Andalucia [FEDER PE2009-FQM-4554, TEP-217]
- EU FP7 AL-NANOFUNC project [CT-REGPOT2011-1-285895]
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The degree of aggregation and/or coalescence of Au-citrate nanoparticles (AuNPs, mean size 21.5 +/- 2.9 nm), after delivery in simulated seawater, are shown to be concentration-dependent. At low concentrations no coalescence and only limited aggregation of primary particles were found. Experiments were performed in which the marine bivalve (Ruditapes philippinarum) was exposed to AuNPs or dissolved Au and subsequently, bivalve tissues were studied by Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy and chemical analyses. We show that the bivalve accumulates gold in both cases within either the digestive gland or gill tissues, in different concentrations (including values of predicted environmental relevance). After 28 days of exposure, electron-dense deposits (corresponding to AuNPs, as proven by X-ray microanalysis) were observed in the heterolysosomes of the digestive gland cells. Although non-measurable solubility of AuNPs in seawater was found, evidence is presented of the toxicity produced by Au3+ dissolved species (chloroauric acid solutions) and its relevance is discussed. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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