title: Bioavailability of silver and silver sulfide nanoparticles to lettuce (Lactuca sativa): Effect of agricultural amendments on plant uptake.
abstract: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can enter terrestrial systems as sulfidised AgNPs (Ag2S-NPs) through the application of biosolids to soil. However, the bioavailability of Ag2S-NPs in soils is unknown. The two aims of this study were to investigate (1) the bioavailability of Ag to lettuce (Lactuca sativa) using a soil amended with biosolids containing Ag2S-NPs and (2) the effect of commonly used agricultural fertilisers/amendments on the bioavailability of Ag, AgNPs and Ag2S-NPs to lettuce. The study used realistic AgNP exposure pathways and exposure concentrations. The plant uptake of Ag from biosolids-amended soil containing Ag2S-NPs was very low for all Ag treatments (0.02%). Ammonium thiosulfate and potassium chloride fertilisation significantly increased the Ag concentrations of plant roots and shoots. The extent of the effect varied depending on the type of Ag. Ag2S-NPs, the realistic form of AgNPs in soil, had the lowest bioavailability. The potential risk of AgNPs in soils is low; even in the plants that had the highest Ag concentrations (Ag(+)+thiosulfate), only 0.06% of added Ag was found in edible plant parts (shoots). Results from the study suggest that agricultural practises must be considered when carrying out risk assessments of AgNPs in terrestrial systems; such practises can affect AgNP bioavailability.
authors: School of Agriculture Food & Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064 Australia. Electronic address: casey.doolette@adelaide.edu.au.
authors: Casey L
authors: CL
authors: Doolette
authors: School of Agriculture Food & Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064 Australia; CSIRO Land and Water Flagship, Environmental Contaminant Mitigation and Technologies Research Program, Advanced Materials Transformational Capability Platform-Nanosafety, Waite Campus, Waite Road, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia. Electronic address: michael.mclaughlin@adelaide.edu.au.
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: McLaughlin
authors: CSIRO Land and Water Flagship, Environmental Contaminant Mitigation and Technologies Research Program, Advanced Materials Transformational Capability Platform-Nanosafety, Waite Campus, Waite Road, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia. Electronic address: Jason.Kirby@csiro.au.
authors: Jason K
authors: JK
authors: Kirby
authors: CSIRO Land and Water Flagship, Environmental Contaminant Mitigation and Technologies Research Program, Advanced Materials Transformational Capability Platform-Nanosafety, Waite Campus, Waite Road, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia. Electronic address: Divina.Navarro@csiro.au.
authors: Divina A
authors: DA
authors: Navarro
mesh_terms: D016573:Agrochemicals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018533:Biomass; D005308:Fertilizers; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D018545:Lactuca / Q000378:metabolism*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D012834:Silver / Q000378:metabolism*; D018030:Silver Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D013885:Thiosulfates / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016573:Agrochemicals; D005308:Fertilizers; D010710:Phosphates; D018030:Silver Compounds; D012987:Soil; D013885:Thiosulfates; C024788:ammonium phosphate; D012834:Silver; D011189:Potassium Chloride; C013251:silver sulfide; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
keywords: Bioavailability; Biosolids; Fertiliser; Plant uptake; Silver sulfide nanoparticles; Soil