Ecotoxicity of titanium silicon oxide (TiSiO4) nanomaterial for terrestrial plants and soil invertebrate species

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2016

Authors

Ruth Pereira (Author) FCUP; Bouguerra, S. (Author) Other; Gavina, A. (Author) Other; Ksibi, M. (Author) Other; Rasteiro, M.G. (Author) Other; Rocha-Santos, T.A.P. (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

Vol. 129

Pages: 291-301

ISSN: 0147-6513

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 27 Citations

Scopus - 32 Citations

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Natural sciences

FOS: Agrarian Sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-BSN

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2016.03.038

Abstract (EN): The huge evolution of nanotechnology and the commercialization of nanomaterials (NMs) positively contributed for innovation in several industrial sectors. Facing this rapid development and the emergence of NMs in the market, the release of this nanometric sized materials in the environment and the possible impact on different ecosystem components attracted the attention of researchers in the last few years. In our study we aimed to assess the impact of titanium silicon oxide nanomaterial (nano-TiSiO4) on soil biota to estimate a risk limit for this material. In the present research a battery of standardized ecotoxicological assays aimed at evaluating a wide range of endpoints (avoidance and reproduction of earthworms and collembolans, emergence/growth of four selected terrestrial plants) were carried out, using OECD artificial soil as test substrate spiked with aqueous suspension of different concentrations of nano-TiSiO4. The results showed a maximum avoidance percentage of 40% for earthworms (Esenia andrei) at the highest concentration tested (1000 mg kg(-1) soil(dw) of nano-TiSiO4). No significant effect on the reproductive function of both invertebrate species was recorded. Nevertheless, significant phytotoxic data was registered at least for the growth of dicotyledonous plant species (Lactuca sativa and Lycopersicon lycopersicum) with EC20 values ranging between 236 and 414 mg kg(-1) soil(dw) of nano-TiSiO4 for L. sativa dry mass and fresh mass, respectively. Further, the characterization of nano-TiSiO4 in suspensions used to spike the soil, performed by Dynamic Light Scattering, showed the formation of aggregates with important average size diameter, thus demonstrating that the toxic effects observed were likely not size dependent. A deterministic PNEC (predicted no effect concentration) for this NM of 10.02 mg kg(-1) soil(dw) of nano-TiSiO4, is suggested, while no more ecotoxicological information exists.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11