title: Toxicokinetics and tissue distribution of cadmium-based Quantum Dots in the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis.
abstract: Environmental health hazards of Quantum Dots (QDs) are of emergent concern, but limited data is available about their toxicokinetics (TK) and tissue distribution in marine bivalves. This study investigated the QDs behavior in seawater, their TK and tissue distribution in Mytilus galloprovincialis, in comparison with soluble Cd. Mussels were exposed to CdTe QDs and soluble Cd for 21 days at 10 μgCd L(-1) followed by a 50 days depuration. TK of QDs in mussels is related to the homo-aggregate uptake, surface charge, aggregation and precipitation as key factors. There were tissue- and time-dependent differences in the TK of both Cd forms, and soluble Cd is the most bioavailable form. Digestive gland is a preferential site for QDs storage and both Cd forms are not eliminated by mussels (t1/2>50 days). Results indicate that the TK model of CdTe QDs in marine mussels is distinct from their soluble counterparts.
authors.affiliation: CIMA, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Thiago Lopes
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: CIMA, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Tânia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: IBB/CBME, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Paulo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.affiliation: CENSE, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Vânia Serrão
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: CERIS - IST, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís Miguel
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: CENSE, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Margarida Ribau
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: CIMA, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal. Electronic address: mbebian@ualg.pt.
authors.forename: Maria João
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bebianno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity; D049878:Mytilus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D066007:Toxicokinetics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium
keywords: Bioaccumulation; Bivalve; Cadmium; Nanoparticles; Nanotoxicology