Abstract

Studies assessing the acute and chronic toxicity of silver nanoparticle (nAg) materials rarely consider potential implications of environmental variables. In order to increase our understanding in this respect, we investigated the acute and chronic effects of various nAg materials on Daphnia magna. Thereby, different nanoparticle size classes with a citrate coating (20-, similar to 30-, 60- as well as 100-nm nAg) and one size class without any coating (140 nm) were tested, considering at the same time two pH levels (6.5 and 8.0) as well as the absence or presence of dissolved organic matter (DOM; <0.1 or 8.0 mg total organic carbon/L). Results display a reduced toxicity of nAg in media with higher pH and the presence of DOM as well as increasing initial particle size, if similarly coated. This suggests that the associated fraction of Ag species <2 nm (including Ag+) is driving the nAg toxicity. This hypothesis is supported by normalizing the 48-h EC50-values to Ag species <2 nm, which displays comparable toxicity estimates for the majority of the nAg materials assessed. It may therefore be concluded that a combination of both the particle characteristics, i.e. its initial size and surface coating, and environmental factors trigger the toxicity of ion-releasing nanoparticles. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Nanomaterial; Silver; Acute toxicity; Crustacean; Environmental conditions

Published in

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
2015, Volume: 111, pages: 263-270
Publisher: ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE

SLU Authors

• Bundschuh, Mirco

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • University of Koblenz-Landau

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG6 Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all


UKÄ Subject classification

Other Biological Topics


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2014.09.031

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/68252