Impact of sulfidation on the bioavailability and toxicity of silver nanoparticles to Caenorhabditis elegans

Daniel L. Starnes, Jason M. Unrine, Catherine P. Starnes, Blanche E. Collin, Emily K. Oostveen, Rui Ma, Gregory V. Lowry, Paul M. Bertsch, Olga V. Tsyusko

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

121 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sulfidation is a major transformation product for manufactured silver nanoparticles (Ag-MNPs) in the wastewater treatment process. We studied the dissolution, uptake, and toxicity of Ag-MNP and sulfidized Ag-MNPs (sAg-MNPs) to a model soil organism, Caenorhabditis elegans. Our results show that reproduction was the most sensitive endpoint tested for both Ag-MNPs and sAg-MNPs. We also demonstrate that sulfidation not only decreases solubility of Ag-MNP, but also reduces the bioavailability of intact sAg-MNP. The relative contribution of released Ag+ compared to intact particles to toxicity was concentration dependent. At lower total Ag concentration, a greater proportion of the toxicity could be explained by dissolved Ag, whereas at higher total Ag concentration, the toxicity appeared to be dominated by particle specific effects.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)239-246
Number of pages8
JournalEnvironmental Pollution
Volume196
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Elsevier Ltd

Keywords

  • Bioaccumulation
  • Nanotechnology
  • Soil
  • Transformation
  • Wastewater treatment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Toxicology
  • Pollution
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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