Dual role of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in the accumulation of inorganic and methyl mercury by crustacean Daphnia magna through waterborne and dietary exposure

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO(2)) are widely used in numerous products, yet their role in the accumulation and transfer of other contaminants in the aquatic food webs is not well understood. The influence of nTiO(2) on inorganic (IHg) and monomethyl mercury (MeHg) accumulation in invertebrate Daphnia magna through waterborne and dietary exposure was thus thoroughly investigated. The results showed that nTiO(2) led to a substantial decrease of the total mercury body burden (THg) in D. magna in direct waterborne exposure to IHg/MeHg. However, exposure to nTiO(2) pre-treated with IHg/MeHg resulted in an increase of the THg body burden in daphnids. The presence of nTiO(2) led to a substantial decrease of the THg in D. magna when exposed to IHg/MeHg via algal food. These effects were more pronounced for IHg than that for MeHg due to the higher adsorption capabilities of nTiO(2) for IHg. In addition, high concentrations of nTiO(2) favored the trophic transfer of IHg/MeHg through feeding on nTiO(2) pre-treated with Hg, however lessened it when D. magna were fed on alga pre-treated with IHg/MeHg. Comparable assimilation efficiency (AE), determined as Hg retained in daphnids after depuration, was observed in D. magna when exposed to IHg/MeHg via algal food regardless the absence or presence of 20 mgL(-1) nTiO(2). By contrast, an increase of the AE of MeHg through feeding on nTiO(2) and alga was found in the presence of higher concentration of 200 mgL(-1) nTiO(2). The present results will help to better understand the role of nTiO(2) on bioavailability and trophic transfer of global contaminants, such as mercury, known to bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the aquatic environment.

Automated summary

This study investigated the influence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO(2)) on the accumulation and transfer of inorganic and monomethyl mercury in invertebrate Daphnia magna. The results showed that nTiO(2) led to a decrease in total mercury body burden in D. magna exposed through waterborne exposure, but an increase when exposed through nTiO(2) pre-treated with mercury. The presence of nTiO(2) also decreased the total mercury in D. magna when exposed through algal food. Additionally, high concentrations of nTiO(2) favored trophic transfer of mercury through feeding on nTiO(2) pre-treated with mercury. The results provide insights into the role of nTiO(2) in the bioavailability and trophic transfer of mercury in the aquatic environment.