title: Are reproduction impairments of free spawning marine invertebrates exposed to zero-valent nano-iron associated with dissolution of nanoparticles?
abstract: Studies were carried out to assess the effects of coating applied to zero-valent nano-iron (nZVI) on early life stage development of three key marine invertebrate species Mytilus galloprovincialis, Ciona intestinalis and Psammechinus milliaris. Embryo development was assessed following a 2-h exposure of the sperm to concentrations of two nZVIs of up to 10 mg l(-1) followed by in vitro fertilisation. Disruption of embryo development was most severe in sea squirts followed by mussel, while the urchin embryos were not significantly affected as compared with controls. An over twofold decrease in fertilisation success alongside significant delay in the embryo development was observed, and the effect was more severe with the coated form, possibly owing to its better colloidal stability. We provide in vitro evidence for the rapid dissolution (within 2 h) of nZVI in seawater to a degree that concentration of total solute Fe released from the coated ZVI particles exceeds safe limits of NOECs established for dissolved Fe.
authors.affiliation: Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth, UK. enik@pml.ac.uk
authors.forename: Eniko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kadar
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dyson
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Handy
authors.forename: Sherain N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Al-Subiai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002938:Ciona intestinalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D007501:Iron / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D049878:Mytilus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D010316:Particle Size; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012617:Sea Urchins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D012623:Seawater; D012995:Solubility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007501:Iron