title: Shifts in the metabolic function of a benthic estuarine microbial community following a single pulse exposure to silver nanoparticles.
abstract: The increasing use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a biocidal agent and their potential accumulation in sediments may threaten non-target natural environmental bacterial communities. In this study a microcosm approach was established to investigate the effects of well characterized OECD AgNPs (NM-300) on the function of the bacterial community inhabiting marine estuarine sediments (salinity 31‰). The results showed that a single pulse of NM-300 AgNPs (1 mg L(-1)) that led to sediment concentrations below 6 mg Ag kg(-1) dry weight inhibited the bacterial utilization of environmentally relevant carbon substrates. As a result, the functional diversity changed, but recovered after 120 h under the experimental conditions. This microcosm study suggests that AgNPs under environmentally relevant experimental conditions can negatively affect bacterial function and provides an insight into the understanding of the bacterial community response and resilience to AgNPs exposure, important for informing relevant regulatory measures.
authors.affiliation: Heriot-Watt University, Centre for Marine Biodiversity & Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Echavarri-Bravo
authors.affiliation: SUPA, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, Heriot-Watt University, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.affiliation: Heriot-Watt University, Centre for Marine Biodiversity & Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Aspray
authors.affiliation: Heriot-Watt University, Centre for Marine Biodiversity & Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Joanne S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.affiliation: Heriot-Watt University, Centre for Marine Biodiversity & Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Winson
authors.affiliation: The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.affiliation: Heriot-Watt University, Centre for Marine Biodiversity & Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK. Electronic address: m.hartl@hw.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Mark G J
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Hartl
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity*; D012834:Silver / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D012834:Silver
keywords: Bacterial communities; Bacterial function; Estuary; Marine; Sediments; Silver nanoparticles