title: Absorption of semiconductor nanocrystals by the aquatic invertebrate Ceriodaphnia dubia.
abstract: When incubated with nanomolar concentrations of fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals in moderately hard water the fluorescence of living Ceriodaphnia dubia increased. Average pixel intensity of exposed animals was greater than that of unexposed animals and increased in a dose and exposure time-dependent-manner. Internal structures were clearly visible in exposed and unexposed animals but fluorescence was most intense in the region of the abdominal appendages of exposed animals. Since these nanoparticles contain significant quantities of the toxic metals cadmium and selenium, their accumulation from aquatic environments by this standard test organism has significant implications about their potential environmental toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biosciences, Arkansas State University, PO Box 599, Jonesboro, AR 72467, USA.
authors.forename: Taylor M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Ingle
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bouldin
authors.forename: Roger A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Buchanan
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D033361:Cladocera / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005453:Fluorescence; D045663:Quantum Dots; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants