Gold nanoparticles do not induce adverse effects on terrestrial isopods Porcellio scaber after 14-day exposure | Nanodelci zlata nimajo negativnih učinkov na kopenske rake vrste Porcellio scaber po 14-dnevni izpostavitvi

English. Despite the anticipated environmental release of anthropogenic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), there is currently not enough data on their potential impact on terrestrial environment. In the current study, we investigated the effects of considerably low concentrations of AuNPs on terrestrial isopods (Porcellio scaber) after 14 days of exposure. The effects on mortality, weight change, feeding rate, avoidance/preference feeding behavior, and cell membrane destabilization of digestive gland cells were followed. In parallel, the accumulation of Au in the digestive glands was measured. Our results show that none of the tested parameters was affected in isopods under given exposure doses (10 and 60 µg Au/g dry leaf) and exposure duration. No Au was assimilated in the digestive glands. Also, the same doses of the reference chemical, AuCl3, showed no effect. We conclude that these concentrations of AuNPs are safe for terrestrial isopods. We encourage reporting the results showing no adverse effects of nanoparticles to balance the prevailing publication of their adverse effects. This will help to build a realistic public perception of the environmental risk of nanomaterials.

Slovenian. Kljub naraščujoči uporabi nanodelcev zlata (ND Au) trenutno še vedno ni dovolj podatkov o njihovih potencialnih negativnih učinkih nakopenske organizme. V tej študiji smo proučevali vpliv relativno nizkih koncentracij ND Au na kopenske rake vrste Porcellio scaber po 14-dnevni izpostavitvi. Proučevali smo vpliv na smrtnost, maso živali, stopnjo prehranjevanja, izogibalno vedenje in destabilizacijo membrane celic prebavnih žlez. Izmerili smo tudi asimilacijo Au v prebavnih žlezah. Rezultati so pokazali, da testirane koncentracije ND Au (10 in 60 µgAu/g lista) pri kopenskih rakih niso vplivale na nobenega izmed testiranih parametrov po danem času izpostavitve. V prebavnih žlezah nismo izmerili Au. Enake rezultate smo dobili tudi z referenčno kemikalijo, soljo AuCl3. Zaključujemo, da so testirane koncentracije ND Au varne za kopenske rake. Naše mnenje je, da se na področju nanotoksikologije trenutno objavlja predvsem rezultate, ki kakorkoli nakazujejo na negativni vpliv nanodelcev na organizme. Zato želimo stimulirati tudi objavo rezultatov, ki kažejo nasprotno. Na ta način bomo pripomogli k bolj uravnoteženemu in realističnemu mnenju javnosti o okoljski varnosti nanomaterialov.