title: Phytotoxicity of ionic, micro- and nano-sized iron in three plant species.
abstract: Potential environmental impacts of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) can be understood taking into consideration phytotoxicity. We reported on the effects of ionic (FeCl3), micro- and nano-sized zerovalent iron (nZVI) about the development of three macrophytes: Lepidium sativum, Sinapis alba and Sorghum saccharatum. Four toxicity indicators (seed germination, seedling elongation, germination index and biomass) were assessed following exposure to each iron concentration interval: 1.29-1570mg/L (FeCl3), 1.71-10.78mg/L (micro-sized iron) and 4.81-33,560mg/L (nano-iron). Exposure effects were also observed by optical and transmission electron microscopy. Results showed that no significant phytotoxicity effects could be detected for both micro- and nano-sized zerovalent irons, including field nanoremediation concentrations. Biostimulation effects such as an increased seedling length and biomass production were detected at the highest exposure concentrations. Ionic iron showed slight toxicity effects only at 1570mg/L and, therefore, no median effect concentrations were determined. By microscopy, ENPs were not found in palisade cells or xylem. Apparently, aggregates of nZVI were found inside S. alba and S. saccharatum, although false positives during sample preparation cannot be excluded. Macroscopically, black spots and coatings were detected on roots of all species especially at the most concentrated treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari Venice, Campo della Celestia, Castello 2737/B, I-30122 Venice, Italy; ECSIN-European Center for the Sustainable Impact of Nanotechnology, Veneto Nanotech S.C.p.A., Viale Porta Adige 45, I-45100 Rovigo, Italy. Electronic address: giovanni.libralato@unive.it.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Libralato
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari Venice, Campo della Celestia, Castello 2737/B, I-30122 Venice, Italy; ECSIN-European Center for the Sustainable Impact of Nanotechnology, Veneto Nanotech S.C.p.A., Viale Porta Adige 45, I-45100 Rovigo, Italy; In.T.Ec. s.r.l., Via Romea, 8, 30034 Mira, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costa Devoti
authors.affiliation: ECSIN-European Center for the Sustainable Impact of Nanotechnology, Veneto Nanotech S.C.p.A., Viale Porta Adige 45, I-45100 Rovigo, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zanella
authors.affiliation: ECSIN-European Center for the Sustainable Impact of Nanotechnology, Veneto Nanotech S.C.p.A., Viale Porta Adige 45, I-45100 Rovigo, Italy; LASA, Universita' degli Studi di Milano and INFN-Milano, via F.lli Cervi 201, I-20090 Segrate, Milan, Italy; CeSI, Aging Research Center, "G. d'Annunzio" University Foundation, Via Colle dell'Ara, I-66100 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sabbioni
authors.affiliation: ECSIN-European Center for the Sustainable Impact of Nanotechnology, Veneto Nanotech S.C.p.A., Viale Porta Adige 45, I-45100 Rovigo, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mičetić
authors.affiliation: ECSIN-European Center for the Sustainable Impact of Nanotechnology, Veneto Nanotech S.C.p.A., Viale Porta Adige 45, I-45100 Rovigo, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manodori
authors.affiliation: ECSIN-European Center for the Sustainable Impact of Nanotechnology, Veneto Nanotech S.C.p.A., Viale Porta Adige 45, I-45100 Rovigo, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pigozzo
authors.affiliation: LASA, Universita' degli Studi di Milano and INFN-Milano, via F.lli Cervi 201, I-20090 Segrate, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manenti
authors.affiliation: LASA, Universita' degli Studi di Milano and INFN-Milano, via F.lli Cervi 201, I-20090 Segrate, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Groppi
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari Venice, Campo della Celestia, Castello 2737/B, I-30122 Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Volpi Ghirardini
mesh_terms: D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002712:Chlorides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects; D031220:Lepidium sativum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects; D036226:Seedlings / Q000254:growth & development; D031226:Sinapis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D045868:Sorghum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D005290:Ferric Compounds; C024555:ferric chloride
keywords: Lepidium; Nano-zerovalent iron; Nanoecotoxicology; Phytotoxicity; Sinapis; Sorghum