Metal oxide nanoparticles facilitate the accumulation of bifenthrin in earthworms by causing damage to body cavity

In this study, we explored the influence of two metal oxide nanoparticles, nano CuO and nano ZnO (10, 50, 250 mg/kg), on accumulation of bifenthrin (100 mg/kg) in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) and its mechanism. The concentrations of bifenthrin in earthworms from binary exposure groups (bifenthrin thorn CuO and bifenthrin thorn ZnO) reached up to 23.2 and 28.9 mg/g, which were 2.65 and 3.32 times of that in bifenthrin exposure group without nanoparticles, respectively, indicating that nanoparticles facilitated the uptake of bifenthrin in earthworms. The contents of biomarkers (ROS, SOD, and MDA) in earthworms indicated that nanoparticles and bifenthrin caused damage to earthworms. Ex vivo test was utilized to investigate the toxic effects of the pollutants to cell membrane of earthworm coelomocytes and mechanism of increased bifenthrin accumulation. In ex vivo test, cell viability in binary exposure groups declined up to 30% and 21% compared to the control group after 24 h incubation, suggesting that coelomocyte membrane was injured by the pollutants. We conclude that nanoparticles damage the body cavity of earthworms, and thus lead to more accumulation of bifenthrin in earthworms. Our findings provide insights into the interactive accumulation and toxicity of nanoparticles and pesticides to soil organisms. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.