Short-term molecular-level effects of silver nanoparticle exposure on the earthworm, Eisenia fetida

Olga V. Tsyusko, Sarita S. Hardas, W. Aaron Shoults-Wilson, Catherine P. Starnes, Greg Joice, D. Allan Butterfield, Jason M. Unrine

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

89 Scopus citations

Abstract

Short-term changes in levels of expression of nine stress response genes and oxidative damage of proteins were examined in Eisenia fetida exposed to polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coated Ag nanoparticles (Ag-NP) and AgNO3 in natural soils. The responses varied significantly among days with the highest number of significant changes occurring on day three. Similarity in gene expression patterns between Ag-NPs and AgNO3 and significant relationships of expression of CAT and HSP70 with Ag soil concentration suggest similarity in toxicity mechanisms of Ag ions and NPs. Significant increases in the levels of protein carbonyls on day three of the exposure to both ions and Ag-NPs indicate that both treatments induced oxidative stress. Our results suggest that Ag ions drive short term toxicity of Ag-NPs in E. fetida. However, given that <15% of Ag in the NPs was oxidized in these soils, dissolution of Ag-NPs is likely to occur after or during their uptake.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)249-255
Number of pages7
JournalEnvironmental Pollution
Volume171
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2012

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Ellen Harding for assistance with qRT-PCRs, and O. Zhurbich, and M. Lacey for assistance with the exposures. Funding for this research was provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) through Science to Achieve Results Program ( RD 833335 , 834574 and 834857 ). Additional support was provided by U.S. EPA and National Science Foundation (NSF) through cooperative agreement EF-0830093 , Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEINT) . Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the EPA or NSF. This work has not been subjected to EPA or NSF review, and no official endorsement should be inferred.

Funding

We thank Ellen Harding for assistance with qRT-PCRs, and O. Zhurbich, and M. Lacey for assistance with the exposures. Funding for this research was provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) through Science to Achieve Results Program ( RD 833335 , 834574 and 834857 ). Additional support was provided by U.S. EPA and National Science Foundation (NSF) through cooperative agreement EF-0830093 , Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEINT) . Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the EPA or NSF. This work has not been subjected to EPA or NSF review, and no official endorsement should be inferred.

FundersFunder number
National Science Foundation (NSF)EF-0830093
U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyRD 833335, 834857, 834574
Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT)

    Keywords

    • Catalase
    • Eisenia fetida
    • Gene expression
    • Oxidative damage
    • Silver nanoparticles

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Toxicology
    • Pollution
    • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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