Impact of sulfidation on the bioavailability and toxicity of silver nanoparticles to Caenorhabditis elegans

TitleImpact of sulfidation on the bioavailability and toxicity of silver nanoparticles to Caenorhabditis elegans
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsStarnes, DL, Unrine, JM, Starnes, CP, Collin, BE, Oostveen, EK, Ma, R, Lowry, GV, Bertsch, PM, Tsyusko, OV
JournalEnvironmental Pollution
Volume196
Pagination239 - 246
Date Published01/2015
ISSN02697491
Abstract

Sulfidation is a major transformation product for manufactured silver nanoparticles (Ag-MNPs) in the wastewater treatment process. We studied the dissolution, uptake, and toxicity of Ag-MNP and sulfidized Ag-MNPs (sAg-MNPs) to a model soil organism, Caenorhabditis elegans. Our results show that reproduction was the most sensitive endpoint tested for both Ag-MNPs and sAg-MNPs. We also demonstrate that sulfidation not only decreases solubility of Ag-MNP, but also reduces the bioavailability of intact sAg-MNP. The relative contribution of released Ag+ compared to intact particles to toxicity was concentration dependent. At lower total Ag concentration, a greater proportion of the toxicity could be explained by dissolved Ag, whereas at higher total Ag concentration, the toxicity appeared to be dominated by particle specific effects.

URLhttp://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0269749114004266
DOI10.1016/j.envpol.2014.10.009
Short TitleEnvironmental Pollution