Sublethal toxicity of nano-titanium dioxide and carbon nanotubes in a sediment dwelling marine polychaete.
The ecotoxicology of manufactured nanoparticles (MNPs) in estuarine environments is not well understood. Here we explore the hypothesis that nanoTiO(2) and single walled nanotubes (SWNT) cause sublethal impacts to the infaunal species Arenicola marina (lugworm) exposed through natural sediments. Using a 10 day OECD/ASTM 1990 acute toxicity test, no significant effects were seen for SWNT up to 0.03 g/kg and no uptake of SWNTs into tissues was observed. A significant decrease in casting rate (P = 0.018), increase in cellular damage (P = 0.04) and DNA damage in coelomocytes (P = 0.008) was measured for nanoTiO(2), with a preliminary LOEC of 1 g/kg. Coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering microscopy (CARS) located aggregates of TiO(2) of >200 nm within the lumen of the gut and adhered to the outer epithelium of the worms, although no visible uptake of particles into tissues was detected.
Galloway
Tamara
T
School of Biosciences, Hatherly Laboratories, University of Exeter, EX4 4PS, Exeter, Devon, UK. t.s.galloway@exeter.ac.uk
Lewis
Ceri
C
Dolciotti
Ida
I
Johnston
Blair D
BD
Moger
Julian
J
Regoli
Francesco
F
D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis* / Q000469:parasitology; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000633:toxicity*; D011077:Polychaeta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D014025:Titanium / Q000633:toxicity*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium