Sunlight-driven reduction of silver ion to silver nanoparticle by organic matter mitigates the acute toxicity of silver to Daphnia magna

Due to the unique antibacterial activities, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been extensively used in commercial products. Anthropogenic activities have released considerable AgNPs as well as highly toxic silver ion (Ag⁺) into the aquatic environment. Our recent study revealed that ubiquitous natural organic matter (NOM) could reduce Ag⁺ to AgNP under natural sunlight. However, the toxic effect of this process is not well understood. In this work, we prepared mixture solution of Ag⁺ and AgNPs with varied Ag⁺% through the sunlight-driven reduction of Ag⁺ by NOM and investigated the acute toxicity of the solutions on Daphnia magna. Formation of AgNPs was demonstrated and characterized by comprehensive techniques and the fraction of unconverted Ag⁺ was determined by ultrafiltration-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry determination. The formation of AgNPs enhanced significantly with the increasing of solution pH and cumulative photosynthetically active radiation of sunlight. The toxicity of the resulting solution was further investigated by using freshwater crustacean D. magna as a model and an 8 hr-median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) demonstrated that the reduction of Ag⁺ by NOM to AgNPs significantly mitigated the acute toxicity of silver. These results highlight the importance of sunlight and NOM in the fate, transformation and toxicity of Ag⁺ and AgNPs, and further indicate that the acute toxicity of AgNPs should be mainly ascribed to the dissolved Ag⁺ from AgNPs.     

Water chemistry controlled aggregation and photo-transformation of silver nanoparticles in environmental waters

The inevitable release of engineered silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into aquatic environments has drawn great concerns about its environmental toxicity and safety. Although aggregation and transformation play crucial roles in the transport and toxicity of AgNPs, how the water chemistry of environmental waters influences the aggregation and transformation of engineered AgNPs is still not well understood. In this study, the aggregation of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coated AgNPs was investigated in eight typical environmental water samples (with different ionic strengths, hardness, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentrations) by using UV–visible spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. Raman spectroscopy was applied to probe the interaction of DOM with the surface of AgNPs. Further, the photo-transformation and morphology changes of AgNPs in environmental waters were studied by UV–visible spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy. The results suggested that both electrolytes (especially Ca^2 + and Mg^2 +) and DOM in the surface waters are key parameters for AgNP aggregation, and sunlight could accelerate the morphology change, aggregation, and further sedimentation of AgNPs. This water chemistry controlled aggregation and photo-transformation should have significant environmental impacts on the transport and toxicity of AgNPs in the aquatic environments.     

Metabolites change of Scenedesmus obliquus exerted by AgNPs

With increasing emission of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into the environment, it is important to understand the effects of ambient concentration of AgNPs. The biological effects of AgNPs on Scenedesmus obliquus, a ubiquitous freshwater microalgae, was evaluated. AgNPs exerted a minor inhibitory effect at low doses. Non-targeted metabolomic studies were conducted to understand and analyze the effect of AgNPs on algal cells from a molecular perspective. During the 48?hr of exposure to AgNPs, 30 metabolites were identified, of which nine had significant changes compared to the control group. These include d-galactose, sucrose, and d-fructose. These carbohydrates are involved in the synthesis and repair of cell walls. Glycine, an important constituent amino acid of glutathione, increased with AgNP exposure concentration increasing, likely to counteract an increased intracellular oxidative stress. These results provide a new understanding of the toxicity effects and mechanism of AgNPs. These metabolites could be useful biomarkers for future research, employed in the early detection of environmental risk from AgNPs.     

纳米银在环境水样和实验介质中的理化性质和毒性效应

纳米银在自然环境中的理化性质可能严重影响其环境效应,本文的目的是为了比较纳米银在自然水样和实验介质条件下的理化性质和毒性效应.实验表征了粒径4 nm表面包裹物为油胺的纳米银,在不同介质条件下的粒径和团聚性,并进一步研究了不同环境介质条件下纳米银暴露对枯草芽孢杆菌的毒性效应.透射电镜照片显示油胺包裹的4 nm纳米银在环境介质中发生明显团聚.油胺包裹的4 nm纳米银暴露会抑制培养基中细菌的生长速率,降低生理盐水溶液中细菌的存活率.纳米银在实验条件下对细菌的毒性呈一定剂量效应关系,但是在环境水样中剂量效应关系不明显.低浓度纳米银在环境水样中的毒性比其在实验介质中弱.纳米银的透析袋暴露实验中,细菌的存活率有显著提升,揭示纳米银与细菌的直接相互作用对毒性效应有重要作用.与实验条件的培养基和生理盐水介质相比,环境水样中的纳米银更趋向以团聚形式存在,与细菌的相互作用几率减小,因此纳米银在环境介质中对细菌的毒性会降低.     

壬基酚和辛基酚暴露的生物标志物——尿液5-HT

为了探讨壬基酚和辛基酚对大鼠体内(5-HT)代谢的影响,为壬基酚和辛基酚暴露标志物的鉴定提供依据.选取健康雄性Sprague Dawley大鼠35只,随机分为对照组,壬基酚、辛基酚及其联合染毒低剂量组(50 mg·kg-1·d-1),壬基酚、辛基酚及其联合染毒高剂量组(150 mg·kg-1·d-1),每组5只,连续7d灌胃染毒,建立染毒动物模型.灌胃次日,利用高效液相色谱法(HPLC)检测各组大鼠尿液中5-羟色胺(5-HT)含量.结果表明,染毒组大鼠尿液中5-HT浓度均显著高于正常对照组(p＜0.01);高剂量染毒组大鼠尿液中5-HT浓度均显著高于其低剂量染毒组(p＜0.01);染毒第7天大鼠尿液中5-HT浓度均显著高于其染毒第3天(p＜0 01)尿液中5-HT浓度随染毒剂量和染毒时间的增加而升高,有剂量-毒性效应和时间-毒性效应关系;尿液5-HT可作为评估壬基酚和辛基酚暴露的潜在生物标志物,应用于大规模人群暴露风险的监测.     

Effect of allelochemicals sustained-release microspheres on the ingestion,incorporation, and digestion abilities of Daphnia magna Straus

Allelochemicals sustained-release microspheres (ACs-SMs) exhibited great inhibition effect on algae,however,few studies have focused on ACs-SMs toxicity on invertebrate.In this study,the effects of single high-concentration ACs (15 mg/L,SH-ACs),repeated low-concentration ACs (3×5 mg/L,RL-ACs) and ACs-SMs containing 15 mg/L ACs exposure on the ingestion,incorporation,and digestion of Daphnia magna Straus (DS) were investigated by stable isotope¹⁵N labeling method.Meanwhile,the diversit...     

Role of nitric oxide in the genotoxic response to chronic microcystin-LR exposure in human–hamster hybrid cells

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is the most abundant and toxic microcystin congener and has been classified as a potential human carcinogen (Group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying the genotoxic effects of MC-LR during chronic exposure are still poorly understood. In the present study, human–hamster hybrid (A_L) cells were exposed to MC-LR for varying lengths of time to investigate the role of nitrogen radicals in MC-LR-induced genotoxicity. The mutagenic potential at the CD59 locus was more than 2-fold higher (p < 0.01) in A_L cells exposed to a cytotoxic concentration (1 μmol/L) of MC-LR for 30 days than in untreated control cells, which was consistent with the formation of micronucleus. MC-LR caused a dose-dependent increase in nitric oxide (NO) production in treated cells. Moreover, this was blocked by concurrent treatment with the NO synthase inhibitor N^G-methyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA), which suppressed MC-LR-induced mutations as well. The survival of mitochondrial DNA-depleted (ρ⁰) A_L cells was markedly decreased by MC-LR treatment compared to that in A_L cells, while the CD59 mutant fraction was unaltered. These results provided clear evidence that the genotoxicity associated with chronic MC-LR exposure in mammalian cells was mediated by NO and might be considered as a basis for the development of therapeutics that prevent carcinogenesis.     

纳米TiO2对短裸甲藻的毒性效应

为了揭示纳米TiO2对藻类的毒性作用和机制,研究了纳米TiO2对短裸甲藻的抑制特性及对酶活性、氧自由基等生理指标的影响.结果表明,纳米TiO2对短裸甲藻的生长有抑制作用,72 h半数致死浓度(EC50)为9.7 mg.L-1.在受试范围内随着纳米TiO2浓度的升高,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的活性显著性下降(P<0.05),随TiO2浓度增加,羟自由基的含量和过氧化氢酶(CAT)的活性显著性增加(P<0.05),超氧阴离子自由基含量也呈现升高的趋势.对照组羟自由基的含量是0.083U.mL-1,而在30 mg.L-1的纳米TiO2作用下,羟自由基的含量上升到1.1 U.mL-1.在20 mg.L-1纳米TiO2作用下,随着时间的延长,SOD活性、CAT活性和MDA(丙二醛)在暴露时间为12 h时达到最大,而48 h时降低到最小.12 h SOD的活性是0.14U.(107cell.min)-1,而48 h SOD的活性为0.01 U.(107cell.min)-1,而羟自由基只在48 h处呈显著性上升(P<0.05).纳米TiO2对抗氧化体系和自由基的影响可能与其抑藻机制有关.本研究为揭示纳米材料的环境生态效应提供了基础.     

Modeling of acute cadmium toxicity in solution to barley root elongation using biotic ligand model theory

Protons（H⁺）as well as different major and trace elements may inhibit cadmium（Cd）uptake in aquatic organisms and thus alleviate Cd toxicity.However,little is known about such interactions in soil organisms.In this study,the independent effects of the cations calcium(Ca²⁺),magnesium(Mg²⁺),potassium（K⁺）,H+and zinc(Zn²⁺)on Cd toxicity were investigated with 5-day long barley root elongation tests in nutrient solutions.The tested concentrations of selected cations and trace metal ions were based on the ranges that occur naturally in soil pore water.The toxicity of Cd decreased with increasing activity of Ca²⁺,Mg²⁺,H⁺and Zn²⁺,but not K⁺.Accordingly,conditional binding constants were obtained for the binding of Cd²⁺,Ca²⁺,Mg²⁺,H⁺,and Zn²⁺ with the binding ligand:log K_CdBL5.19,logK_CaBL2.87,logK_MgBL2.98,logK_HBL5.13 and logK_ZnBL5.42,respectively.Furthermore,it was calculated that on average 29% of the biotic ligand sites needed to be occupied by Cd to induce a 50% decrease in root elongation.Using the estimated constants,a biotic ligand model was successfully developed to predict the Cd toxicity to barley root elongation as a function of solution characteristics.The feasibility and accuracy of its application for predicting Cd toxicity in soils were discussed.