Nanosilver inhibits nitrification and reduces ammonia-oxidising bacterial but not archaeal amoA gene abundance in estuarine sediments.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) enter estuaries via wastewater treatment effluents, where they can inhibit microorganisms, because of their antimicrobial properties. Ammonia-oxidising bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA) are involved in the first step of nitrification and are important to ecosystem function, especially where effluent discharge results in high nitrogen inputs. Here, we investigated the effect of a pulse addition of AgNPs on AOB and AOA ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) gene abundances and benthic nitrification potential rates (NPR) in low-salinity and mesohaline estuarine sediments. Whilst exposure to 0.5 mg L-1 AgNPs had no significant effect on amoA gene abundances or NPR, 50 mg L-1 AgNPs significantly decreased AOB amoA gene abundance (up to 76% over 14 days), and significantly decreased NPR by 20-fold in low-salinity sediments and by twofold in mesohaline sediments, after one day. AgNP behaviour differed between sites, whereby greater aggregation occurred in mesohaline waters (possibly due to higher salinity), which may have reduced toxicity. In conclusion, AgNPs have the potential to reduce ammonia oxidation in estuarine sediments, particularly where AgNPs accumulate over time and reach high concentrations. This could lead to long-term risks to nitrification, especially in polyhaline estuaries where ammonia-oxidation is largely driven by AOB.

Characterization of cerium oxide nanoparticles-part 1: size measurements.

The present study gives an overview of some of the major aspects for consideration in the characterization of nanomaterials (NMs). Part 1 focuses on the measurement of particle size and size-related parameters using several analytical techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, and Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller surface area measurements as applied to commercially available cerium oxide nanoparticles (NPs) and microparticles (MPs). Part 2 (see companion paper) considers nonsize-related characterization and analysis. The results are discussed in relation to the nature of the sample and preparation, and the analytical principles, limitations, and advantages of each technique. Accurate information on the particle size of the different fractions of a sample can be obtained by using a combination of different types of microscopy, spectroscopy, separation, and other techniques; this should inform ecotoxicological and environmental studies. The good agreement between the measured primary particle size of the NPs (~15 nm) by atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller suggests that the primary particles are formed of semispherical single crystals. For MPs, all measurements agree that they are large particles in the range above the NPs (100 nm), with some difference between the measured sizes, possibly as a result of polydispersity effects. Additionally, our findings suggest that atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy prepared by centrifugation methods provide consistent data at low concentrations when dynamic light scattering fails.

Characterization of cerium oxide nanoparticles-part 2: nonsize measurements.

Part 1 (see companion paper) of the present study discussed the application of a multimethod approach in characterizing the size of cerium oxide nanoparticles (NPs). However, other properties less routinely investigated, such as shape and morphology, structure, chemical composition, and surface properties, are likely to play an important role in determining the behavior, reactivity, and potential toxicity of these NPs. The present study describes the measurement of the aforementioned physicochemical properties of NPs (applied also to nanomaterials [NMs]) compared with micrometer particles (MPs). The authors use a wide range of techniques, including high resolution-transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrophoresis, and compare these techniques, their advantages, and their limitations, along with recommendations about how best to approach NM characterization, using an application to commercial cerium oxide NPs and MPs. Results show that both cerium oxide NPs and MPs are formed of single polyhedron or truncated polyhedron crystals. Cerium oxide NPs contain a mixture of Ce(3+) and Ce(4+) cations, whereas the MPs contain mainly Ce(4+) , which is potentially important in understanding the toxicity of cerium oxide NPs. The isoelectric point of cerium oxide NPs was approximately pH 8, which explains their propensity to aggregate in aqueous media (see companion paper).

Interspecies comparisons on the uptake and toxicity of silver and cerium dioxide nanoparticles.

An increasing number and quantity of manufactured nanoparticles are entering the environment as the diversity of their applications increases, and this will lead to the exposure of both humans and wildlife. However, little is known regarding their potential health effects. We compared the potential biological effects of silver (Ag; nominally 35 and 600-1,600 nm) and cerium dioxide (CeO(2;) nominally <25 nm and 1-5 µm) particles in a range of cell (human hepatocyte and intestinal and fish hepatocyte) and animal (Daphnia magna, Cyprinus carpio) models to assess possible commonalities in toxicity across taxa. A variety of analytical techniques were employed to characterize the particles and investigate their biological uptake. Silver particles were more toxic than CeO(2) in all test systems, and an equivalent mass dose of Ag nanoparticles was more toxic than larger micro-sized material. Cellular uptake of all materials tested was shown in C3A hepatocytes and Caco-2 intestinal cells, and for Ag, into the intestine, liver, gallbladder, and gills of carp exposed via the water. The commonalities in toxicity of these particle types across diverse biological systems suggest that cross-species extrapolations may be possible for metal nanoparticle test development in the future. Our findings also suggest transport of particles through the gastrointestinal barrier, which is likely to be an important uptake route when assessing particle risk.