Toxicological Impacts of TiO2 Nanoparticles on Growth, Photosynthesis Pigments, and Protein and Lipid Content of the Marine Microalga Tetraselmis Suecica

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 111; no. 3; p. 29
• Main Authors: Bameri, Leila, Sourinejad, Iman, Ghasemi, Zahra, Fazelian, Nasrin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.09.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Algae; Aquatic ecosystems; Aquatic microorganisms; Aquatic Pollution; bulls; Cell culture; Cell density; Chlorophyll; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; growth performance; industry; inhibitory concentration 50; lipid content; Lipids; Live feeds; mariculture; Marine aquaculture; Marine ecosystems; Microalgae; Nanoparticles; Photosynthesis; Photosynthetic pigments; Pigments; Pollution; protein content; Proteins; Shellfish; Shrimp culture; Soil Science & Conservation; Tetraselmis suecica; Titanium dioxide; toxicity; Toxicology; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; TiO; Nanotoxicology; IC50; FESEM analysis
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-023-03782-w

Regarding the widespread use of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 NPs) in industry, many concerns have been raised about the risks of their potential release into aquatic ecosystems. Among the marine primary producers, Tetraselmis suecica is an ecologically important microalgae species used also as live feed in the shrimp culture industry. In the present study, the impacts of TiO 2 NPs on growth performance, photosynthetic pigments, lipid and protein content and its interaction with the cells of T. suecica were assessed. Based on the preliminary tests and OECD suggestion, concentrations of 5, 10, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/L TiO 2 NPs were applied to algal cells for 10 days. With increasing concentration, a decrease in T. suecica cell density was observed each day. TiO 2 NPs induced a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 106.26 mg/L on algal cells on the 3rd day. Chlorophyll a and b contents of the microalga decreased up to 56.08% and 52.74%, respectively following the exposure to TiO 2 NPs at 400 mg/L. TiO 2 NPs also decreased the algal contents of protein and lipid up to 7.21% and 50.64%, respectively at the highest concentration. Based on FTIR, FESEM with EDS and mapping analyses, the interaction of TiO 2 NPs with the T. suecica cells was revealed. The stocks of T. suecica could be damaged by the toxic effects of the released TiO 2 NPs affecting their application as live feed in mariculture.