title: Effects of ZnO nanoparticles and Zn(2+) on fluvial biofilms and the related toxicity mechanisms.
abstract: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) used in consumer products are largely released into the environment through the wastewater stream. The health hazard of ZnO NPs and the contribution of dissolved Zn(2+) in toxicity of ZnO NPs has attracted extensive worldwide attention. In this study, the toxic effects of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and the effects of dissolved Zn(2+) on fluvial biofilms were investigated. At the end of the exposure time (21 days), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and bioaccumulation experiments revealed that large quantities of ZnO NPs were adsorbed on the biofilm. The algal biomasses were significantly decreased by six- and eleven-fold compared with the control (1.43 μg/L) by exposure to concentrations of 100mg/L ZnO NPs and 7.85 mg/L Zn(2+), respectively. Moreover, under the same exposure conditions, the quantum yields presented contents of 53.33 and 33.33% relative to the control, and a shift in the community composition that manifested as a strong reduction in diatoms was observed from 7 days and reached 15.63 and 6.25% of the control after 21 days of exposure, respectively. The reductions in bacteria viability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were noticeably enhanced following exposure to 100mg/L ZnO NPs and 7.85 mg/L Zn(2+), respectively. Additionally, the acute and rapid toxicity of Zn(2+) and the increasing toxicity of the ZnO NPs with increased bioaccumulation were noted in the exposure experiment.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: hhuhjyhj@126.com.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: pfwang2005@hhu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Peifang
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lingzhan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bowen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yangyang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guoxiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: You
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D062065:Wastewater; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D015032:Zinc / Q000633:toxicity*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D015032:Zinc; D015034:Zinc Oxide
keywords: Fluvial biofilm; Toxicity mechanisms; Zn(2+); ZnO nanoparticles