title: Analysis of Eisenia fetida earthworm responses to sub-lethal C60 nanoparticle exposure using (1)H-NMR based metabolomics.
abstract: The enhanced production and environmental release of Buckminsterfullerene (C60) nanoparticles will likely increase the exposure and risk to soil dwelling organisms. We used (1)H NMR-based metabolomics to investigate the response of Eisenia fetida earthworms to sub-lethal C60 nanoparticle exposure in both contact and soil tests. Principal component analysis of (1)H NMR data showed clear separation between controls and exposed earthworms after just 2 days of exposure, however as exposure time increased the separation decreased in soil but increased in contact tests suggesting potential adaptation during soil exposure. The amino acids leucine, valine, isoleucine and phenylalanine, the nucleoside inosine, and the sugars glucose and maltose emerged as potential bioindicators of exposure to C60 nanoparticles. The significant responses observed in earthworms using NMR-based metabolomics after exposure to very low concentrations of C60 nanoparticles suggests the need for further investigations to better understand and predict their sub-lethal toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1C 1A4.
authors.forename: Brian P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Lankadurai
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1C 1A4.
authors.forename: Edward G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Nagato
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1C 1A4.
authors.forename: André J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1C 1A4. Electronic address: myrna.simpson@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Myrna J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000633:toxicity*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D055432:Metabolomics; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D037741:Fullerenes; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C069837:fullerene C60
keywords: Bioindicators; Buckminsterfullerene; Earthworm; Metabolic profiling; Mode of action; Toxicity