title: Determination of multi-walled carbon nanotube bioaccumulation in earthworms measured by a microwave-based detection technique.
abstract: Reliable quantification techniques for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are limited. In this study, a new procedure was developed for quantifying multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) based on freeze drying and microwave-induced heating. Specifically, earthworms were first processed into a powder by freeze drying. Then, samples were measured by utilizing 10 s exposure to 30 W microwave power. This method showed the potential to quantitatively measure MWNTs in earthworms at low concentrations (~0.1 μg in 20 mg of earthworm). Also, a simple MWNT bioaccumulation study in earthworms indicated a low bioaccumulation factor of 0.015±0.004. With an appropriate sample processing method and instrumental parameters (power and exposure time), this technique has the potential to quantify MWNTs in a variety of sample types (plants, earthworms, human blood, etc.).
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Toxicology, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH), Texas Tech University, Box 41163, Lubbock TX 79409-1163, USA. li.shibin@epa.gov
authors.forename: Shibin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Fahmida
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Irin
authors.forename: Francis O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Atore
authors.forename: Micah J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Jaclyn E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cañas-Carrell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008872:Microwaves; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000378:metabolism*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D012989:Soil Pollutants