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Phototoxicity of TiO2 Nanoparticles to Two Aquatic Species: Daphnia magna and Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryo
Citation:
MA, H., A. A. BRENNAN, AND S. A. DIAMOND. Phototoxicity of TiO2 Nanoparticles to Two Aquatic Species: Daphnia magna and Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryo. Presented at International Conference on Environmental Pollution and Public Health, Shanghai, CHINA, May 17 - 20, 2012.
Impact/Purpose:
Ecotoxicological studies on TiO2 nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) are expanding rapidly due to their widespread use in both industrial and consumer products. However, few studies have focused on their potential phototoxicity related to the photocatalytic property of the material. In this study, phototoxicity of nano-TiO2 under simulated solar radiation (SSR) was investigated to two aquatic species Daphnia magna and Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo, using 48-h and 96-h assays, respectively. In parallel, toxicity assays were performed under standard laboratory lighting. Phototoxicity of nano-TiO2 to D. magna under SSR was enhanced by four orders of magnitude as compared to laboratory light, with a 48-h LC50 of 29.8 µg/L. Similarly, phototoxicity of nano-TiO2 to zebrafish embryos under SSR was significantly enhanced as compared to laboratory lab, as indicated by a wide variety of malformations (e.g., pericardia edema, scoliosis, etc.) in the nano-TiO2 treated embryos/larvae under SSR. This dramatic increase in toxicity of nano-TiO2 under environmentally realistic levels of SSR indicates the need for incorporating this mode of action into risk assessment of TiO2 and other photoreactive nanomaterials.
Description:
Ecotoxicological studies on TiO2 nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) are expanding rapidly due to their widespread use in both industrial and consumer products. However, few studies have focused on their potential phototoxicity related to the photocatalytic property of the material. In this study, phototoxicity of nano-TiO2 under simulated solar radiation (SSR) was investigated to two aquatic species Daphnia magna and Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo, using 48-h and 96-h assays, respectively. In parallel, toxicity assays were performed under standard laboratory lighting. Phototoxicity of nano-TiO2 to D. magna under SSR was enhanced by four orders of magnitude as compared to laboratory light, with a 48-h LC50 of 29.8 µg/L. Similarly, phototoxicity of nano-TiO2 to zebrafish embryos under SSR was significantly enhanced as compared to laboratory lab, as indicated by a wide variety of malformations (e.g., pericardia edema, scoliosis, etc.) in the nano-TiO2 treated embryos/larvae under SSR. This dramatic increase in toxicity of nano-TiO2 under environmentally realistic levels of SSR indicates the need for incorporating this mode of action into risk assessment of TiO2 and other photoreactive nanomaterials.