Subchronic and chronic developmental effects of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles on Xenopus laevis

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 135; pp. 166 - 174
• Main Authors: Nations, Shawna, Long, Monique, Wages, Mike, Maul, Jonathan D., Theodorakis, Christopher W., Cobb, George P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2015
• Subjects: Animals; Aquatic Organisms; CERAMICS; Copper - toxicity; COPPER OXIDE; Copper oxides; CuO; CUPRIC OXIDE; Development amphibians; Exposure; FETAX; Metal Nanoparticles - toxicity; Metal oxides; Mortality; Nanoparticles; Nanostructures; Organisms; OXIDES; PARTICLES; Toxicity; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Xenopus laevis; Nanoparticles; CuO; FETAX; Development amphibians
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.03.078

•Moving from acute (4d) to subacute (14d) to chronic (50d) nano-CuO exposure times increase Xenopus mortality.•NanoCuO subacute LC50s are below LOECs for Xenopus.•At low concentrations nano-CuO has marginally beneficial effects on Xenopus growth and development.•At 0.3mgL−1, less than 40% of tadpoles had completed metamorphosis. Metal oxide nanoparticles, such as copper oxide (CuO), are mass produced for use in a variety of products like coatings and ceramics. Acute exposure to CuO nanoparticles has caused toxicity to many aquatic organisms, yet there is no information on the effect of prolonged CuO nanomaterial exposures. This study examined effects of chronic exposure to CuO nanoparticles on Xenopus laevis growth and development. Experiments included a 14d subchronic exposure and a 47d chronic exposure throughout metamorphosis. The subchronic exposure caused mortality in all tested CuO concentrations, and significant growth effects occurred after exposure to 2.5mgL−1 CuO. Chronic exposure to 0.3mgL−1 CuO elicited significant mortality and affected the rate of metamorphosis. Exposure to lower concentrations of CuO stimulated metamorphosis and growth, indicating that low dose exposure can have hormetic effects.