title: The impact of cerium oxide nanoparticles on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and its implications for food safety.
abstract: Sustainable development of nanotechnology requires an understanding of the long term ecotoxicological impact of engineered nanomaterials on the environment. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂-NPs) have great potential to accumulate and adversely affect the environment owing to their widespread applications in commercial products. This study documented the chronic phenotypic response of tomato plants to CeO₂-NPs (0.1-10 mg L⁻¹) and determined the effect of CeO₂-NPs on tomato yield. The results indicated that CeO₂-NPs at the concentrations applied in this study had either an inconsequential or a slightly positive effect on plant growth and tomato production. However, elevated cerium content was detected in plant tissues exposed to CeO₂-NPs, suggesting that CeO₂-NPs were taken up by tomato roots and translocated to shoots and edible tissues. In particular, substantially higher Ce concentrations were detected in the fruits exposed to 10 mg L⁻¹ CeO₂-NPs, compared with controls. This study sheds light on the long term impact of CeO₂-NPs on plant health and its implications for our food safety and security.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xingmao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Haochun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Yongsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002563:Cerium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D059022:Food Safety; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D010316:Particle Size; D010641:Phenotype; D063245:Plant Development / Q000187:drug effects; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D002563:Cerium; C030583:ceric oxide