Ecotoxicological effects of an aged TiO₂ nanocomposite measured as apoptosis in the anecic earthworm Lumbricus terrestris after exposure through water, food and soil

Lapied, Emmanuel; Nahmani, Johanne Y.; Moudilou, Elara; Chaurand, Perrine; Labille, Jérôme; Rose, Jerome; Exbrayat, J. M.; Oughton, Deborah H.; Joner, Erik J.

Ecotoxicological effects of an aged TiO₂ nanocomposite measured as apoptosis in the anecic earthworm Lumbricus terrestris after exposure through water, food and soil

2011

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles seem to have a low toxicity to terrestrial organisms, though few studies are published in this area. TiO₂ used in sunscreens are nanocomposites where TiO₂ has been coated with magnesium, silica or alumina, as well as amphiphilic organics like polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS), and these coatings are modified by ageing. We assessed the ecotoxicity and propensity for bioaccumulation of an aged TiO₂ nanocomposite used in sunscreen cosmetics, and its potential effect on the frequency of apoptosis in different earthworm tissues. The earthworm Lumbricus terrestris was exposed to the TiO₂ nanocomposite for 7days in water or 2–8weeks in soil with the nanocomposite mixed either into food or soil at concentrations ranging from 0 to 100mgkg⁻¹. Apoptosis was then measured by immunohistochemistry and Ti localized by XRF microscopy. Results showed no mortality, but an enhanced apoptotic frequency which was higher in the cuticule, intestinal epithelium and chloragogenous tissue than in the longitudinal and circular musculature. TiO₂ nanoparticles did not seem to cross the intestinal epithelium/chloragogenous matrix barrier to enter the coelomic liquid, or the cuticule barrier to reach the muscular layers. No bioaccumulation of TiO₂ nanocomposites could thus be observed.

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