Multigenerational exposure of Ag materials (nano and salt) in soil - environmental hazards in Enchytraeus crypticus (Oligochaeta)

Fátima C. F. Santos, Rudo A. Verweij, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Janeck J. Scott-Fordsmand, Cornelis A. M. van Gestel, Mónica J. B. Amorim*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Because of its properties, silver is among the most used metals both as salt and as nanomaterials (NMs), hence reaching the environment. Multigenerational (MG) exposure testing is scarce, and especially so for NMs and soil invertebrates. In this study the MG effects of Ag NMs (Ag NM300K) and Ag salt (AgNO3) were assessed, using Enchytraeus crypticus in LUFA 2.2 soil. Survival, reproduction and internal Ag concentration in the animals were measured throughout 7 generations (5 generations (F0-F4) in spiked soil plus 2 (F5-F6) in clean soil) exposed to sublethal concentrations corresponding to the reproduction EC10 and EC50 obtained in standard toxicity tests (45 and 60 mg Ag per kg soil DW for AgNO3; 20 and 60 mg Ag per kg soil DW for Ag NM300K). MG exposure caused a dose-related decrease in reproduction for both Ag forms. Ag uptake peaked in the F1 (64 days) for AgNO3 and F2 (96 days) for Ag NM300K, after which it decreased. In agreement with toxicokinetic studies, a maximum body Ag concentration was reached (20 mg Ag per kg body DW (AgNO3) and 70 mg Ag per kg body DW (Ag NM300K)) and after which detoxification mechanisms seem to be activated with elimination of Ag accompanied by a decrease in reproduction. Transfer to clean soil allowed Ag to be (fully) eliminated from the animals. This MG study confirmed the effects determined in standard reproduction toxicity tests but further allowed to monitor the dynamics between exposure and effects of the Ag materials, and how the animals seem to cope with Ag for 7 generations by compensating between detoxification and reproductive output.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)826-831
JournalNanoscale Advances
Volume6
Issue number3
Early online date22 Nov 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Funding

This study was supported by the European Commission Projects BIORIMA (H2020-NMBP-2017, GA No. 760928), NanoInformaTIX (H2020-NMBP-14-2018, No. 814426) and NANORIGO (H2020-NMBP-13-2018, GA No. 814530). Further support by FCT/MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC), and the co-funding by the FEDER, within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement and Compete 2020 via CESAM (UIDB/50017/2020+UIDP/50017/2020+LA/P/0094/2020) and BEAUTY: Big gEnome wide Applications for an ecotoxicology soil model – a knowledge base to Unravel mechanisms (nanopesTY_cides)” (PTDC/CTA-AMB/3970/2020). Thanks are due to FCT via a PhD grant to FCFS (SFRH/BD/118294/2016) and an exceptional PhD grant to FCFS (COVID/BD/151720/2021). Sekerani B. Chidiamassamba is acknowledged by the help in methodological procedures and sampling in some generations.

FundersFunder number
European CommissionH2020-NMBP-2017, 760928, 814426, H2020-NMBP-13-2018, 814530, H2020-NMBP-14-2018
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior
European Regional Development FundLA/P/0094/2020, SFRH/BD/118294/2016, COVID/BD/151720/2021, PTDC/CTA-AMB/3970/2020

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Multigenerational exposure of Ag materials (nano and salt) in soil - environmental hazards in Enchytraeus crypticus (Oligochaeta)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this