Aging of nanosized titanium dioxide modulates the effects of dietary copper exposure on Daphnia magna - an assessment over two generations.

Nanosized titanium dioxide (nTiO2) is widely used in products, warranting its discharge from various sources into surface water bodies. However, nTiO2 co-occurs in surface waters with other contaminants, such as metals. Studies with nTiO2 and metals have indicated that the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) can mitigate their toxicity to aquatic organisms. In addition, "aging" of nTiO2 can affect toxicity. However, it is a research challenge, particularly when addressing sublethal responses from dietary exposure over multiple generations. We, therefore exposed the alga Desmodesmus subspicatus to nTiO2 (at concentrations of 0.0, 0.6 and 3.0 mg nTiO2/L) in nutrient medium aged for 0 or 3 days with copper (Cu) at concentrations of 0 and 116 µg Cu/L and with NOM at concentrations equivalent to 0 and 8 mg total organic carbon (TOC) per litre. Subsequently, the exposed alga was fed to Daphnia magna for 23 days over two generations and survival, reproduction and body length were assessed as endpoints of toxicity. In parallel, Cu accumulation and depuration from D. magna were measured. The results indicate that the reproduction of D. magna was the most sensitive parameter in this study, being reduced by 30% (at both parental (F0) and filial (F1) generations) and 50% (at F0 but not F1) due to the dietary Cu exposure in combination with nTiO2 for 0 and 3 days aging, respectively. There was no relationship between the effects observed on reproduction and Cu body burden in D. magna. Moreover, D. magna from the F1 generation showed an adaptive response to Cu in the treatment with 3.0 mg nTiO2/L aged for 3 days, potentially due to epigenetic inheritance. Unexpectedly, the presence of NOM hardly changed the observed effects, pointing towards the function of algal exopolymeric substances or intracellular organic matter, rendering the NOM irrelevant. Ultimately, the results indicate that the transferability of the impacts observed during the F0 to the responses in the F1 generation is challenging due to opposite effect directions. Additional mechanistic studies are needed to unravel this inconsistency in the responses between generations and to support the development of reliable effect models.

Nanoparticles transported from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems via emerging aquatic insects compromise subsidy quality.

Nanoparticle contaminants enter aquatic ecosystems and are transported along the stream network. Here, we demonstrate a novel pathway for the return of nanoparticles from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems via cross-boundary subsidies. During their emergence, trichopteran caddisflies carried titanium dioxide and gold nanoparticles into their terrestrial life stages. Moreover, their emergence was delayed by ≤30 days, and their energy reserves were depleted by ≤25%. Based on worst case estimates, it is suggested that terrestrial predators, such as bats feeding on aquatic prey, may ingest up to three orders of magnitude higher gold levels than anticipated for humans. Additionally, terrestrial predator species may suffer from alterations in the temporal availability and nutritional quality of their prey. Considering the substantial transfer of insect biomass to terrestrial ecosystems, nanoparticles may decouple aquatic and terrestrial food webs with important (meta-)ecosystem level consequences.

Exposure pathway dependent effects of titanium dioxide and silver nanoparticles on the benthic amphipod Gammarus fossarum.

The increasing production of engineered inorganic nanoparticles (EINPs) elevates their release into aquatic ecosystems raising concerns about associated environmental risks. Numerous investigations indicate sediments as the final sink, facilitating the exposure of benthic species to EINPs. Although reports of sub-lethal EINP effects on benthic species are increasing, the importance of exposure pathways (either waterborne or dietary) is poorly understood. This study investigates the influence of two EINPs, namely titanium dioxide (nTiO2) and silver (nAg), on the benthic model organism Gammarus fossarum specifically addressing the relative relevance of these pathways. For each type of EINP an individual 30-day long bioassay was conducted, applying a two-factorial test design. The factors include the presence or absence of the EINPs (nTiO2: ∼80 nm, 4 mg/L or nAg: ∼30 nm, 0.125 mg/L; n = 30) in the water phase (waterborne), combined with a preceding 6-day long aging of their diet (black alder leaves) also in presence or absence of the EINPs (dietary). Response variables were mortality, food consumption, feces production and energy assimilation. Additionally, the physiological fitness was examined using lipid content and dry weight of the organisms as measures. Results revealed a significantly reduced energy assimilation (up to ∼30%) in G. fossarum induced by waterborne exposure towards nTiO2. In contrast, the dietary exposure towards nAg significantly increased the organisms' energy assimilation (up to ∼50%). Hence, exposure pathway dependent effects of EINPs cannot be generalized and remain particle specific resting upon their intrinsic properties affecting their potential to interact with the surrounding environment. As a result of the different properties of the EINPs used in this study, we clearly demonstrated variations in type and direction of observed effects in G. fossarum. The results of the present study are thus supporting current approaches for nano-specific grouping that might enable an enhanced accuracy in predicting EINP effects facilitating their environmental risk assessment.

A blessing in disguise? Natural organic matter reduces the UV light-induced toxicity of nanoparticulate titanium dioxide.

Besides their economic value, engineered inorganic nanoparticles (EINPs) may pose a risk for the integrity of ecosystems. Among EINPs, titanium dioxide (nTiO2) is frequently used and released into surface waters in the µg range. There, nTiO2 interacts with environmental factors, influencing its potential to cause adverse effects on aquatic life. Although factors like ultra violet (UV) light and natural organic matter (NOM) are considered as ubiquitous, their joint impact on nTiO2-induced toxicity is poorly understood. This study addressed the acute toxicity of nTiO2 (P25; 0.00-64.00 mg/L; ~60 nm) at ambient UV light (0.00-5.20 W UVA/m2) and NOM levels (seaweed extract; 0.00-4.00 mg TOC/L), using the immobility of Daphnia magna as response variable. Confirming previous studies, effects caused by nTiO2 were elevated with increasing UV radiation (up to ~280 fold) and mitigated by higher NOM levels (up to ~12 fold), possibly due to reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS; measured as •OH radicals) formation at lower UV intensities. However, contradicting to former studies, nTiO2-mediated ROS formation was not proportional to increasing NOM levels: lower concentrations (0.04-0.40 mg TOC/L) slightly diminished, whereas a higher concentration (4.00 mg TOC/L) promoted the ROS quantity, irrespective of UV intensity. Measured ROS levels do not fully explain the observed nTiO2-induced toxicity, whereas increasing acetylcholinesterase and glutathione-S-transferase activities in daphnids (in presence of 8.00 mg/L nTiO2 and elevated UV intensity) point towards neurotoxic and oxidative stress as a driver for the observed effects. Hence, despite higher •OH levels in the treatments where 4.00 mg TOC/L were present, NOM was still capable of reducing nTiO2-induced stress and ultimately adverse effects in aquatic life.

Methods of determing biokinetics of arsenate accumulation and release in Microcystis aeruginosa regulated by common environmental factors: Practical implications for enhanced bioremediation.

Only little information is available on combined effects of abiotic environmental factors on algal arsenate (AsV ) metabolic biokinetics. Herein, we demonstrated the methods of using the Taguchi statistical method to investigate four environmental factors including AsV , nitrate (N), orthophosphate (P) and pH for their combined effects on algal growth and arsenic (As) uptake but also extracellular adsorption of Microcystis aeruginosa, as well as As release from dead algal cells. Results showed that an increase of N facilitated M. aeruginosa growth and thus was the principal factor for the algal maximum specific growth rate ( µmax ). P was vital to AsV bioconcentration factor (BCF) and As partition coefficients (LogKd ) released from deal algal cells. AsV impacted the extracellular As adsorption onto the algal cells, which thereby increased with increasing initial AsV level. The initial pH had an imperative effect on the AsV uptake (ku ) and release rate (Ke ) from the dead cells. Collectively, the condition of low P, high N and alkaline pH level was favorable to As accumulation rate of living cells and restrictive to As release rate from dead cells of M. aeruginosa. The obtained information can pave a road for extensive understanding on efficient utilization of As bioremediation of algae in practical environment. •Principal factors were identified on AsV metabolic biokinetics by Taguchi method.•High N and pH but low P fasten AsV uptake and reduce As efflux from dead cells.•AsV only as the main factor impacted As extracellular adsorption on algal cells.

Effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the accumulation and distribution of arsenate in Daphnia magna in the presence of an algal food.

The impact of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) on the bioavailability of metals in aquatic filter-feeding organisms has rarely been investigated, especially in the presence of algae as a food source. In this study, we quantified the accumulation and subcellular distribution of arsenate (AsV) in Daphnia magna in the presence of nano-TiO2 and a green alga (Scenedesmus obliquus) food source. Results showed that S. obliquus significantly increased the accumulation of total arsenic (As) and titanium (Ti) in D. magna. The presence of this food source increased As in metal-sensitive fractions (MSF) and as biologically detoxified metals (BDM), while it decreased Ti levels in MSF but increased levels as BDM. The difference in the subcellular distribution of As and Ti demonstrates the dissociation of As from nano-TiO2 during digestion at subcellular partitioning irrespective of food availability. In turn, the presence of algae was shown to increase metal-based toxicity in D. magna due to the transfer of As from BMD to MSF. Furthermore, S. obliquus significantly increased the concentration of As and Ti in soluble fractions, indicating that As and nano-TiO2 ingested by D. magna could be transferred more readily to their predators in the presence of S. obliquus. Our study shows the potential of algae to increase the toxicity and biomagnification of AsV. Furthermore, it highlights food as an important factor in the toxicity assessment of nanomaterials and co-existing pollutants.

Long-term effects of fungicides on leaf-associated microorganisms and shredder populations-an artificial stream study.

Leaf litter is a major source of carbon and energy for stream food webs, while both leaf-decomposing microorganisms and macroinvertebrate leaf shredders can be affected by fungicides. Despite the potential for season-long fungicide exposure for these organisms, however, such chronic exposures have not yet been considered. Using an artificial stream facility, effects of a chronic (lasting up to 8 wk) exposure to a mixture of 5 fungicides (sum concentration 20 µg/L) on leaf-associated microorganisms and the key leaf shredder Gammarus fossarum were therefore assessed. While bacterial density and microorganism-mediated leaf decomposition remained unaltered, fungicide exposure reduced fungal biomass (≤71%) on leaves from day 28 onward. Gammarids responded to the combined stress from consumption of fungicide-affected leaves and waterborne exposure with a reduced abundance (≤18%), which triggered reductions in final population biomass (18%) and in the number of precopula pairs (≤22%) but could not fully explain the decreased leaf consumption (19%), lipid content (≤43%; going along with an altered composition of fatty acids), and juvenile production (35%). In contrast, fine particulate organic matter production and stream respiration were unaffected. Our results imply that long-term exposure of leaf-associated fungi and shredders toward fungicides may result in detrimental implications in stream food webs and impairments of detrital material fluxes. These findings render it important to understand decomposer communities' long-term adaptational capabilities to ensure that functional integrity is safeguarded. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2178-2189. © 2017 SETAC.

Quantity and quality of natural organic matter influence the ecotoxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles' fate is amongst other parameters determined by the quantity and quality of natural organic matter (NOM). Consequently, the ecotoxicity of nanoparticles is modified, while only little information is available on the NOM characteristics triggering this interplay. This study systematically examined how NOM quantity and quality influences the acute ecotoxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2) towards Daphnia magna. Therefore, two nTiO2 products (A-100 and P25; ∼100 nm) were investigated in combination with seven NOM types of variable quality at four levels each (up to 4.00 mg total organic carbon/L). The results showed that - independent of the applied nTiO2 product and NOM type - nTiO2 ecotoxicity decreased up to a factor of >18 with increasing NOM concentration. More importantly, increasing levels of aromaticity and hydrophobicity of the NOM decreased the magnitude of toxic effects caused by nTiO2, which was again independent of the nTiO2 product tested. In the light of the ubiquitary presence of NOM, the ecotoxicological risk of nTiO2 in surface waters with high NOM loads is likely moderate. However, interactions of nTiO2 and NOM in combination with other natural or chemical stressors are not well-understood but seem to be fundamental for a reliable risk assessment of nanoparticles.

Do titanium dioxide nanoparticles induce food depletion for filter feeding organisms? A case study with Daphnia magna.

Although nanoparticles are increasingly investigated, their impact on the availability of food (i.e., algae) at the bottom of food chains remains unclear. It is, however, assumed that algae, which form heteroagglomerates with nanoparticles, sediment quickly limiting the availability of food for primary consumers such as Daphnia magna. As a consequence, it may be hypothesized that this scenario - in case of fundamental importance for the nanoparticles impact on primary consumers - induces a similar pattern in the life history strategy of daphnids relative to situations of food depletion. To test this hypothesis, the present study compared the life-history strategy of D. magna experiencing different degrees of food limitation as a consequence of variable algal density with daphnids fed with heteroagglomerates composed of algae and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2). In contrast to the hypothesis, daphnids' body length, weight, and reproduction increased when fed with these heteroagglomerates, while the opposite pattern was observed under food limitation scenarios. Moreover, juvenile body mass, and partly length, was affected negatively irrespective of the scenarios. This suggests that daphnids experienced - besides a limitation in the food availability - additional stress when fed with heteroagglomerates composed of algae and nTiO2. Potential explanations include modifications in the nutritious quality of algae but also an early exposure of juveniles to nTiO2.

Palladium Nanoparticles: Is There a Risk for Aquatic Ecosystems?

Nano-sized palladium (nano-Pd) is used in catalytic converters of automobiles, where it can be released into the environment by abrasion. Although these particles may subsequently be transported into surface water bodies, no data estimating their fate and toxicity in aquatic systems exists. This study characterized the particle size development of nano-Pd (advertised size ~12 nm; hydrodynamic size ~70 nm) in media with variable ionic strength (IS). Additionally, the particles' acute toxicity for daphnids and chironomids was assessed. While nano-Pd agglomerated more quickly with increasing IS, it caused only marginal effects in both test species after 96 h of exposure. After 144 h of exposure, however, an EC50 value of 1.23 mg nano-Pd/L for daphnids was determined indicating effects over the long run. When considering the relatively low environmental concentration of elemental Pd in surface waters (usually ng/L), though, this study suggests only a low aquatic risk in response to nano-Pd.

Nanosized titanium dioxide influences copper-induced toxicity during aging as a function of environmental conditions.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 -NPs) adsorb co-occurring heavy metals in surface waters, modulating their toxicity for freshwater invertebrates. The processes triggering this interaction may be influenced by several environmental parameters; however, their relative importance remains unclear. The present study assessed the implications of aging on the joint acute toxicity of copper (Cu) and TiO2 -NPs for Daphnia magna over a duration of up to 72 h. The influences of aging duration as well as ionic strength, pH, and presence of different qualities of organic matter during aging were assessed. The results indicated that the presence of TiO2 -NPs often reduced the Cu-induced toxicity for daphnids after aging (albeit with varying extent), which was displayed by up to 3-fold higher EC50 (50% effective concentration) values compared to the absence of TiO2 -NPs. Moreover, the Cu speciation, influenced by the ionic composition and the pH as well as the presence of organic additives in the medium, strongly modulated the processes during aging, with partly limited implications of the aging duration on the ecotoxicological response of D. magna. Nonetheless, the present study underpins the potential of TiO2 -NPs to modify toxicity induced by heavy metals in freshwater ecosystems under various environmental conditions. This pattern, however, needs further verification using heavy metal ions with differing properties in combination with further environmental factors, such as ultraviolet irradiation. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1766-1774. © 2015 SETAC.

Does the presence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles reduce copper toxicity? A factorial approach with the benthic amphipod Gammarus fossarum.

In aquatic ecosystems, titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) may adsorb co-occurring chemical stressors, such as copper (Cu). This interaction has the potential to reduce the concentration of dissolved Cu due to surface binding to the nanoparticles. The subsequent sedimentation of nano-TiO2 agglomerates may increase the exposure of benthic species towards the associated Cu. This scenario was assessed by employing the amphipod Gammarus fossarum as model species and taking advantage of a 2×2-factorial design investigating absence and presence of 2mg nano-TiO2/L and 40µg Cu/L (n=45; t=24d) in darkness, respectively. Nano-TiO2 alone did not affect mortality and leaf consumption, whereas Cu alone caused high mortality (>70%), reduced leaf consumption (25%) and feces production (30%) relative to the control. In presence of nano-TiO2, Cu-induced toxicity was largely eliminated. However, independent of Cu, nano-TiO2 decreased the gammarids' assimilation and weight. Hence, nano-TiO2 may be applicable as Cu-remediation agent, while its potential long-term effects need further attention.

Aging of TiO2 Nanoparticles Transiently Increases Their Toxicity to the Pelagic Microcrustacean Daphnia magna.

During their aquatic life cycle, nanoparticles are subject to environmentally driven surface modifications (e.g. agglomeration or coating) associated with aging. Although the ecotoxicological potential of nanoparticles might be affected by these processes, only limited information about the potential impact of aging is available. In this context, the present study investigated acute (96 h) and chronic (21 d) implications of systematically aged titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2; ~90 nm) on the standard test species Daphnia magna by following the respective test guidelines. The nTiO2 were aged for 0, 1, 3 and 6 d in media with varying ionic strengths (Milli-Q water: approx. 0.00 mmol/L and ASTM: 9.25 mmol/L) in the presence or absence of natural organic matter (NOM). Irrespective of the other parameters, aging in Milli-Q did not change the acute toxicity relative to an unaged control. In contrast, 6 d aged nTiO2 in ASTM without NOM caused a fourfold decreased acute toxicity. Relative to the 0 d aged particles, nTiO2 aged for 1 and 3 d in ASTM with NOM, which is the most environmentally-relevant setup used here, significantly increased acute toxicity (by approximately 30%), while a toxicity reduction (60%) was observed for 6 d aged nTiO2. Comparable patterns were observed during the chronic experiments. A likely explanation for this phenomenon is that the aging of nTiO2 increases the particle size at the start of the experiment or the time of the water exchange from <100 nm to approximately 500 nm, which is the optimal size range to be taken up by filter feeding D. magna. If subjected to further agglomeration, larger nTiO2 particles, however, cannot be retained by the daphnids' filter apparatus ultimately reducing their ecotoxicological potential. This non-linear pattern of increasing and decreasing nTiO2 related toxicity over the aging duration, highlights the knowledge gap regarding the underlying mechanisms and processes. This understanding seems, however, fundamental to predict the risks of nanoparticles in the field.

Nanosized titanium dioxide reduces copper toxicity--the role of organic material and the crystalline phase.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2) are expected to interact with natural substances and other chemicals in the environment, however little is known about their combined effects. Therefore, this study assessed the toxicity of copper (Cu) in combination with varying crystalline phases (anatase, rutile, and the mixture) of nTiO2 and differing organic materials on Daphnia magna. The nanoparticles reduced the Cu-toxicity depending on the product (0.3- to 2-fold higher 48-h EC50). This decrease in toxicity coincided with a lowered Cu-concentration in the water column, which was driven by the adsorption of Cu to nTiO2-depending on available surface area and structure-and their subsequent sedimentation. In the presence of organic material and nTiO2, the Cu-toxicity was further reduced (up to 7-fold higher 48-h EC50). This observation can be explained by a reduced Cu-bioavailability as a result of complexation and adsorption by the organic material and nTiO2, respectively. Thus, the crystalline phase composition, which is determining the surface area and structure of nTiO2, seems to be of major importance for the toxicity reduction of heavy metals, while the influence of the organic materials was mainly driven by the quantity and quality of humic substances.

Photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide nanoparticles affect habitat selection of and food quality for a key species in the leaf litter decomposition process.

Interactions with environmental parameters may alter the ecotoxicity of nanoparticles. The present study therefore assessed the (in)direct effects of nanoparticulate titanium dioxide (nano-TiO(2)) towards Gammarus fossarum, considering nano-TiO(2)'s photocatalytic properties at ambient UV-intensities. Gammarids' habitat selection was investigated using its feeding preference on leaf discs either exposed to or protected from UV-irradiation in presence of nano-TiO(2) as proxy (n = 49). UV-irradiational one induced a significant preference for UV-protected habitats, which was more pronounced in simultaneous presence of nano-TiO(2). This behaviour may be mainly explained by the UV-induced formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by nano-TiO(2). Besides their direct toxicity, ROS may have lowered the leaf-quality in UV-exposed areas contributing (approximately 30%) to the observed behavioural pattern. Since the predicted no effect concentration of nano-TiO(2) in combination with UV irradiation falls below the predicted environmental concentration this study underpins the importance of considering environmental parameters during the risk assessment of nanoparticles.

Effects of silver nanoparticle properties, media pH and dissolved organic matter on toxicity to Daphnia magna.

Studies assessing the acute and chronic toxicity of silver nanoparticle (nAg) materials rarely consider potential implications of environmental variables. In order to increase our understanding in this respect, we investigated the acute and chronic effects of various nAg materials on Daphnia magna. Thereby, different nanoparticle size classes with a citrate coating (20-, ~30-, 60- as well as 100-nm nAg) and one size class without any coating (140 nm) were tested, considering at the same time two pH levels (6.5 and 8.0) as well as the absence or presence of dissolved organic matter (DOM; <0.1 or 8.0 mg total organic carbon/L). Results display a reduced toxicity of nAg in media with higher pH and the presence of DOM as well as increasing initial particle size, if similarly coated. This suggests that the associated fraction of Ag species <2 nm (including Ag(+)) is driving the nAg toxicity. This hypothesis is supported by normalizing the 48-h EC50-values to Ag species <2 nm, which displays comparable toxicity estimates for the majority of the nAg materials assessed. It may therefore be concluded that a combination of both the particle characteristics, i.e. its initial size and surface coating, and environmental factors trigger the toxicity of ion-releasing nanoparticles.

Addendum to the article: Misuse of null hypothesis significance testing: Would estimation of positive and negative predictive values improve certainty of chemical risk assessment?

We argued recently that the positive predictive value (PPV) and the negative predictive value (NPV) are valuable metrics to include during null hypothesis significance testing: They inform the researcher about the probability of statistically significant and non-significant test outcomes actually being true. Although commonly misunderstood, a reported p value estimates only the probability of obtaining the results or more extreme results if the null hypothesis of no effect was true. Calculations of the more informative PPV and NPV require a priori estimate of the probability (R). The present document discusses challenges of estimating R.

Size-, surface- and crystalline structure composition-related effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles during their aquatic life cycle.

Nanoparticle toxicity depends amongst others on particle characteristics and nanoparticle behavior during their aquatic life cycle. Aquatic organisms may be exposed to nanoparticle agglomerates of varying size, while lager agglomerates after settling rather affect benthic organisms. In this context, the present study systematically examined the role of particle characteristics, i.e. crystalline structure composition (anatase as well as mixture of anatase-rutile), initial particle size (55-, 100-, and 140-nm) and surface area, in the toxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2) to the pelagic filter feeder Daphnia magna (n = 4) and the benthic amphipod Gammarus fossarum (n = 30). Smaller initial particle sizes (i.e. 55-nm) and anatase based particles showed an approximately 90% lower Daphnia EC50-value compared to its respective counterpart. Most importantly, particle surface normalized EC50-values significantly differed for nanoparticles equal to or below 100 nm in size from 140-nm sized particles. Hence, these data suggest that the reactive initial surface area may explain the ecotoxicological potential of different particle size classes only if their size is smaller or around 100 nm. In contrast to Daphnia, Gammarus was not affected by nTiO2 concentrations of up to 5.00 mg/L, irrespective of their characteristics. This indicates fundamental differences in the toxicity of nTiO2 during its aquatic life cycle mediated by alterations in their characteristics over time.

Heavy metal uptake and toxicity in the presence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles: a factorial approach using Daphnia magna.

Unintentionally released titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2) may co-occur in aquatic environments together with other stressors, such as, metal ions. The effects of P25-nTiO2 on the toxicity and uptake of the elements silver (Ag), arsenic (As) and copper (Cu) were assessed by applying a factorial test design. The test design consisted of two developmental stages of Daphnia magna, two levels of nTiO2 (0 versus 2 mg/L) as well as seven nominal test concentrations of the respective element. The presence of nTiO2 increased Ag toxicity for juveniles as indicated by a 40% lower 72-h EC50, while the toxicities of As and Cu were reduced by up to 80%. This reduction was even more pronounced for Cu in the presence of dissolved organic carbon (i.e., seaweed extract) and nTiO2. This outcome coincides with the body burden of the elements, which was elevated 2-fold for Ag and decreased 14-fold for Cu in the presence of nTiO2. Although the underlying mechanisms could not be uncovered, the data suggest that the carrier function of nTiO2 plays a central role. However, to understand the processes and mechanisms occurring in the field due to the presence of nTiO2 further systematic investigations considering environmental variables and nanoparticle characteristics are required.

Combined effect of UV-irradiation and TiO2-nanoparticles on the predator-prey interaction of gammarids and mayfly nymphs.

Although nanoparticle production and application increases continuously, their implications in species interactions, especially in combination with other environmental stressors, are rarely assessed. Therefore, the present study investigated the influence of 2 mg/L titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2; <100 nm) on the interaction between the prey Ephemerella ignita (Ephemeroptera) and the predator Gammarus fossarum (Amphipoda) over 96 h considering UV-irradiation at field relevant levels (approximately 11.4 W/m(2)) as an additional environmental factor (n = 16). At the same time, gammarid's consumption of an alternative food source, i.e. leaf discs, was assessed. All endpoints covered were not affected by nTiO2 alone, while the combination of nTiO2 and UV caused a reduction in gammarid's predation (68%), leaf consumption (60%) and body weight (22%). These effects were most likely triggered by the UV-induced formation of reactive oxygen species by nTiO2. The present study, hence, highlights the importance to cover UV-irradiation during the risk assessment of nanoparticles.