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Investigation of ZnO nanoparticles’ ecotoxicological effects towards different soil organisms

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Abstract

Introduction

Nanomaterials have widespread applications in several industrial sectors. ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) are among the most commonly used metal oxide NPs in personal care products, coating and paints. However, their potential toxicological impact on the environment is largely unexplored.

Materials and methods

The aim of this work was to evaluate whether ZnO nanoparticles exert toxic and genotoxic effects upon terrestrial organisms: plants (Lepidium sativum, Vicia faba), crustaceans (Heterocyipris incongruens), insects (Folsomia candida). To achieve this purpose, organisms pertaining to different trophic levels of the soil ecosystem have been exposed to ZnO NPs. In parallel, the selected soil organisms have been exposed to the same amount of Zn in its ionic form (Zn2+) and the effects have been compared.

Results

The most conspicuous effect, among the test battery organisms, was obtained with the ostracod H. incongruens, which was observed to be the most sensitive organism to ZnO NPs. The root elongation of L. sativum was also mainly affected by exposure to ZnO NPs with respect to ZnCl2, while collembolan reproduction test produced similar results for both Zn compounds. Slight genotoxic effects with V. faba micronucleus test were observed with both soils.

Conclusion

Nanostructured ZnO seems to exert a higher toxic effect in insoluble form towards different terrestrial organisms with respect to similar amounts of zinc in ionic form.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to A. Salluzzo for ICP-MS measurements and to A. De Girolamo Del Mauro and V. La Ferrara for their support in SEM analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ENEA Research Centre Portici, UTTP ChiA, Napoli, Italy

    Sonia Manzo, Annamaria Rocco, Rita Carotenuto & Fabiano De Luca Picione

  2. ENEA Research Centre Portici, UTTP-MDB, P.le E. Fermi 1 80055-Portici, Napoli, Italy

    Maria Lucia Miglietta, Gabriella Rametta & Girolamo Di Francia

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  1. Sonia Manzo
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  2. Annamaria Rocco
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  3. Rita Carotenuto
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  4. Fabiano De Luca Picione
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  5. Maria Lucia Miglietta
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  7. Girolamo Di Francia
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Correspondence to Sonia Manzo.

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Responsible editor: Vera Slaveykova

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Manzo, S., Rocco, A., Carotenuto, R. et al. Investigation of ZnO nanoparticles’ ecotoxicological effects towards different soil organisms. Environ Sci Pollut Res 18, 756–763 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-010-0421-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-010-0421-0

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