Ecotoxicological assessment of TiO₂ byproducts on the earthworm Eisenia fetida

Bigorgne, Emilie; Foucaud, Laurent; Lapied, Emmanuel; Labille, Jérôme; Botta, Céline; Sirguey, Catherine; Falla, Jaïro; Rose, Jerome; Joner, Erik J.; Rodius, François; Nahmani, Johanne

Ecotoxicological assessment of TiO₂ byproducts on the earthworm Eisenia fetida

2011

The increasing production of nanomaterials will in turn increase the release of nanosized byproducts to the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behaviour, uptake and ecotoxicity of TiO₂ byproducts in the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Worms were exposed to suspensions containing 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/L of byproducts for 24 h. Size of TiO₂ byproducts showed aggregation of particles up to 700 μm with laser diffraction. Only worms exposed at 10 mg/L showed bioaccumulation of titanium (ICP-AES), increasing expression of metallothionein and superoxide dismutase mRNA (Real-time PCR) and induction of apoptotic activity (Apostain and TUNEL). TiO₂ byproducts did not induce cytotoxicity on cœlomocytes, but a significant decrease of phagocytosis was observed starting from 0.1 mg/L. In conclusion, bioaccumulation of byproducts and their production of reactive oxygen species could be responsible for the alteration of the antioxidant system in worms.

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