Effects of ZnO nanoparticles and Zn2+ on fluvial biofilms and the related toxicity mechanisms

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) used in consumer products are largely released into the environment through the wastewater stream. The health hazard of ZnO NPs and the contribution of dissolved Zn2+ in toxicity of ZnO NPs has attracted extensive worldwide attention. In this study, the toxic effects of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and the effects of dissolved Zn2+ on fluvial biofilms were investigated. At the end of the exposure time (21 days), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and bioaccumulation experiments revealed that large quantities of ZnO NPs were adsorbed on the biofilm. The algal biomasses were significantly decreased by six-and eleven-fold compared with the control (1.43 mu g/L) by exposure to concentrations of 100 mg/L ZnO NPs and 7.85mg/L Zn2+, respectively. Moreover, under the same exposure conditions, the quantum yields presented contents of 53.33 and 33.33% relative to the control, and a shift in the community composition that manifested as a strong reduction in diatoms was observed from 7 days and reached 15.63 and 6.25% of the control after 21 days of exposure, respectively. The reductions in bacteria viability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were noticeably enhanced following exposure to 100 mg/L ZnO NPs and 7.85 mg/L Zn2+, respectively. Additionally, the acute and rapid toxicity of Zn2+ and the increasing toxicity of the ZnO NPs with increased bioaccumulation were noted in the exposure experiment. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.