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Effects of nano-titanium dioxide on freshwater algal population dynamics.

ABSTRACT: To make predictions about the possible effects of nanomaterials across environments and taxa, toxicity testing must incorporate not only a variety of organisms and endpoints, but also an understanding of the mechanisms that underlie nanoparticle toxicity. Here, we report the results of a laboratory experiment in which we examined how titanium dioxide nanoparticles impact the population dynamics and production of biomass across a range of freshwater algae. We exposed 10 of the most common species of North American freshwater pelagic algae (phytoplankton) to five increasing concentrations of n-TiO(2) (ranging from controls to 300 mg n-TiO(2) L(-1)). We then examined the effects of n-TiO(2) on the population growth rates and biomass production of each algal species over a period of 25 days. On average, increasing concentrations of n-TiO(2) had no significant effects on algal growth rates (p = 0.376), even though there was considerable species-specific variation in responses. In contrast, exposure to n-TiO(2) tended to increase maximum biomass achieved by species in culture (p = 0.06). Results suggest that titanium dioxide nanoparticles could influence certain aspects of population growth of freshwater phytoplankton, though effects are unlikely at environmentally relevant concentrations.

SUBMITTER: Kulacki KJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3468504 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Effects of nano-titanium dioxide on freshwater algal population dynamics.

Kulacki Konrad J KJ Cardinale Bradley J BJ

PloS one 20121010 10

To make predictions about the possible effects of nanomaterials across environments and taxa, toxicity testing must incorporate not only a variety of organisms and endpoints, but also an understanding of the mechanisms that underlie nanoparticle toxicity. Here, we report the results of a laboratory experiment in which we examined how titanium dioxide nanoparticles impact the population dynamics and production of biomass across a range of freshwater algae. We exposed 10 of the most common species ...[more]

PMID: 23071735

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Project description:A potentially useful means of predicting the pulmonary risk posed by new forms of nano-structured titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) is to use the associations between the physicochemical properties and pulmonary toxicity of characterized forms of TiO2. In the present study, we conducted intratracheal administration studies in rats to clarify the associations between the physicochemical characteristics of seven characterized forms of TiO2 and their acute or subacute pulmonary inflammatory toxicity. Examination of the associations between the physicochemical characteristics of the TiO2 and the pulmonary inflammatory responses they induced revealed (1) that differences in the crystallinity or shape of the TiO2 particles were not associated with the acute pulmonary inflammatory response; (2) that particle size was associated with the acute pulmonary inflammatory response; and (3) that TiO2 particles coated with Al(OH)3 induced a greater pulmonary inflammatory response than did non-coated particles. We separated the seven TiO2 into two groups: a group containing the six TiO2 with no surface coating and a group containing the one TiO2 with a surface coating. Intratracheal administration to rats of TiO2 from the first group (i.e., non-coated TiO2) induced only acute pulmonary inflammatory responses, and within this group, the acute pulmonary inflammatory response was equivalent when the particle size was the same, regardless of crystallinity or shape. In contrast, intratracheal administration to rats of the TiO2 from the second group (i.e., the coated TiO2) induced a more severe, subacute pulmonary inflammatory response compared with that produced by the non-coated TiO2. Since alteration of the pulmonary inflammatory response by surface treatment may depend on the coating material used, the pulmonary toxicities of coated TiO2 need to be further evaluated. Overall, the present results demonstrate that physicochemical properties may be useful for predicting the pulmonary risk posed by new nano-TiO2 materials.

Dataset Information

Effects of nano-titanium dioxide on freshwater algal population dynamics.

Publications

Effects of nano-titanium dioxide on freshwater algal population dynamics.

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