Artemia salina and Lactuca sativa as toxicity bioindicators of nanosized

photocatalysts

Ana M. Ferrari-Lima1*, Adriano V. Scalco2, Joelma R. de Melo2, Cintia A. A. Pereira1, Nádia R.

C. Fernandes2
1
Chemical Engineering Department, Federal Technological University of Paraná, Rua Marcílio
Dias 635, Apucarana-Brazil
2
Postgraduate Program on Chemical Engineering, State University of Maringá, Avenida
Colombo 5790, Maringá-Brazil

* Corresponding author: analima@utfpr.edu.br

Introduction
Heterogeneous photocatalysis is an emerging remediation process with a huge variety of
environmental applications. Most of authors attest that photocatalysts are non-toxic to the environment [1]
and can be safety released into water bodies after use. However, the growing development of nanosized
compounds for photocatalytic applications brings about an important concern regarding to the possible toxic
effect of these materials in the ecosystem. Rapid development of nanotechnology and widespread usage
indicate that the unintentional exposure risk was significantly promoted [2]. Interactions of various types
may occur in mixtures of metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) on environment, for instance heteroaggregation,
metal ion absorption, competition of ion metals, owing to specific properties of metal oxide NPs such as
large specific surface area and differential solubility [3]. With this background, this research attempts to
assess toxicity of combined zeolite NaY with ZnO and Nb2O5 nanoparticles. The investigation aimed at
specifying toxic effects of the nanoparticles on Lactuca sativa seeds and the brine shrimp Artemia salina.
Experimental
ZnO, ZnO/NaY, Nb2O5 and Nb2O5/NaY were applied as NPs for the toxicity tests. Pure Nb2O5 were
obtained by precipitation method (P) using trioxalate monohydrated ammonium oxiniobate and by
hydrothermal method (H) using HY-340. Nb2O5 (P) and commercial zinc oxide (ZnO) were deposited on
commercial NaY zeolite (10% wt). The characteristics of the oxides are listed in Table 1.

Table 1: Characterization of the nanoparticles

Catalyst Specific surface Zeta Equivalent particle
area SBET (m2 g-1) potential diameter DBET(nm)*
ZnO 82.8 6.13 13
Nb2O5 (P) 65.3 4.67 20
Nb2O5 (H) 111.4 1.90 12
ZnO/NaY 325.0 3.90 11
Nb2O5/NaY 414.5 7.28 9
*equivalent diameter determined from SBET. DBET=6/[(SBET(m g )*particle density(g m3)]
2 -1

Cytotoxicity assay was carried out on larvae of brine shrimp (A. salina Leach.) and phytotoxicity
effect was evaluated by applying Lactuca sativa seeds.

1
 Results
The brine shrimp lethality assay was used to determine the cytotoxicity of NPs and the results are
shown on Table 2. According to the results, Nb2O5 (H) showed strong toxicity, with LC50 < 100 μg mL-1.
Nb2O5 (P), Nb2O5/NaY and ZnO exhibited moderate cytotoxicity (LC50 ranged between 100 and 500 μg
mL-1), and ZnO/NaY showed weak cytotoxicity to A. salina (LC50 range 500–1000 μg mL-1) [4].

Table 2: NPs toxicity assay by Artemia salina

Catalyst LC50 (mg L-1) Remarks
ZnO 468 moderately toxic
Nb2O5 (P) 197 moderately toxic
Nb2O5 (H) 85 strongly toxic
ZnO/NaY 527 weakly toxic
Nb2O5/NaY 419 moderately toxic

Effects of nanoparticles at 1000 mg L-1 on root growth are shown in Fig. 1. Seed germinations were
not affected by the nanoparticles. Root growth of lettuce seed was inhibited by nano-ZnO and nano-
ZnO/NaY. Nb2O5/NaY and Nb2O5 (P) suspensions had no phytotoxicity. Lin et al. (2007) [5] reported the
inhibition of lettuce root growth at 2000 mg L-1 of ZnO nanoparticles.

Figure 1. Influence of supernatants of photocatalysts suspensions on root growths of L. sativa.

Conclusions

Cytotoxicity tests with Artemia salina and phytotoxicity tests with Lactuca sativa were performed for
ZnO, Nb2O5 and NaY zeolite containing nanoparticles. The presence of NaY reduced the citoxicity of the
oxides. 10% Nb2O5/NaY material showed reduced toxicity (LC50=527 mg L-1) and did not present
inhibition effect on the development of Lactuca sativa seeds. ZnO NP was the most phytotoxic while Nb2O5
(H) was the most cytotoxic with LC50 equal to 85 mg L-1.

Acknowledgments
Adriano V. Scalco thanks CAPES for the Scholarship.

References:
[1] J. Yan, G. Wu, N. Guan, L. Li, Appl. Catal., B 152–153 (2014) 280–288.
[2] B. Song, T. Zhou, W. Yang, J. Liu, L. Shao, Environ. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 48 (2016) 130–140.
[3] I. Jośko, B. Oleszczuk, E. Skwarek, 2017, J. Hazard. Mater. 331 (2017) 200–209.
[4] R. Padmaja, P.C. Arun, D. Prashanth, M. Deepak, A. Amit, M. Anjana, Fitoterapia 73 (2002) 508-510.
[5] D. Lin, B. Xing, Environ. Sci. Technol. 42 (2008) 5580–5585.