Size-dependent toxicity of silver nanoparticles to Glyptotendipes tokunagai.
- Author:
Seona CHOI
1
;
Soyoun KIM
;
Yeon Jae BAE
;
June Woo PARK
;
Jinho JUNG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Bioacummulation; Chironomus; Nanotoxicity; Nanoparticle; Particles size
- MeSH: Chironomidae; Ions; Larva; Nanoparticles*; Polyvinyls; Silver*; Solubility
- From:Environmental Health and Toxicology 2015;30(1):e2015003-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the size-dependent toxicity of spherical silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) to an endemic benthic organism, Glyptotendipes tokunagai. METHODS: Ag nanoparticles of three nominal sizes (50, 100, and 150 nm) capped with polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP-Ag NPs) were used. Their physicochemical properties, acute toxicity (48 hours), and bioaccumulation were measured using third instar larvae of G. tokunagai. RESULTS: The aggregation and dissolution of PVP-Ag NPs increased with exposure time and concentration, respectively, particularly for 50 nm PVP-Ag NPs. However, the dissolved concentration of Ag ions was not significant compared with the median lethal concentration value for AgNO3 (3.51 mg/L). The acute toxicity of PVP-Ag NPs was highest for the smallest particles (50 nm), whereas bioaccumulation was greatest for the largest particles (150 nm). However, larger PVP-Ag NPs were absorbed and excreted rapidly, resulting in shorter stays in G. tokunagai than the smaller ones. CONCLUSIONS: The size of PVP-Ag NPs significantly affects their acute toxicity to G. tokunagai. In particular, smaller PVP-Ag NPs have a higher solubility and stay longer in the body of G. tokunagai, resulting in higher toxicity than larger PVP-Ag NPs.
