title: Toxicity of copper nanoparticles and CuCl2 salt to Enchytraeus albidus worms: survival, reproduction and avoidance responses.
abstract: Environmental effects of copper nanoparticles are little studied in terrestrial ecosystems. In the present article, the toxicity of copper nanoparticles (Cu-NP) on the enchytraeid Enchytraeus albidus is compared to the toxicity of a copper-salt (CuCl(2)). The effect parameters studied were survival, reproductive output and avoidance behaviour. The results show that Cu-NP were more toxic to E. albidus than the same concentrations of the CuCl(2)-salt. The physic-chemical analysis of the particles indicated that only a small fraction was released as ions. Hence, the results indicated a nanoparticle-specific effect - lower reproductive output and higher avoidance. This was observed as 2-8 fold (significant) lower ECx values for Cu-NP (EC(50-reprod) = 95 mg Cu/kg; EC(50-avoid) = 241 mg Cu/kg) exposed organisms compared to CuCl(2) (EC(50)(-)(reprod) = 251 mg Cu/kg; EC(50-avoid) = 475 mg Cu/kg) exposed organisms. These results corroborate with a nanoparticle-specific effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal. mjamorim@ua.pt
authors.forename: Mónica João Barros
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.forename: Janeck James
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Scott-Fordsmand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D003300:Copper; C029892:cupric chloride