Comparative evaluation on the toxic effect of silver (Ag) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles on different trophic levels in aquatic ecosystems: A review

• Published in: Journal of applied toxicology 2022-12, Vol.42 (12), p.1890-1900
• Main Authors: Sibiya, Ashokkumar, Jeyavani, Jeyaraj, Santhanam, Perumal, Preetham, Elumalai, Freitas, Rosa, Vaseeharan, Baskaralingam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic ecosystems; Aquatic environment; Aquatic organisms; Bioaccumulation; comparative toxicity; Cytotoxicity; Ecosystems; Genotoxicity; Gills; Ingestion; Invertebrates; Metal particles; Muscles; Nanoparticles; Organisms; Silver; Toxicity; toxicology; Trophic levels; Vertebrates; Wildlife; Zinc oxide
• ISSN: 0260-437X; 1099-1263
• DOI: 10.1002/jat.4310

Silver (Ag) and zinc oxide (ZnO) are considered to be harmful nanoparticles (NPs) to the aquatic organisms as their intake causes toxic impacts to wildlife, through direct ingestion or by the transference along trophic levels. Over usage and ultimate disposal of metallic particles from the industries subsequently lead to pollution of the aquatic environment. Exposure of NPs in aquatic ecosystem alters biological and physicochemical parameters of the water and aquatic organisms and determines their potential ecotoxicological impacts. Prolonged exposure of aquatic organisms to these NPs results in differential bioaccumulation and distribution into internal organs like liver, kidney, gills, brain, and muscle tissue. The contact of NPs to aquatic organisms induces various types of toxic traits including cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and epigeneticity. Taking this in consideration, this present review focuses on the comparative toxic impact of ZnO and Ag NPs towards both vertebrates and invertebrates in aquatic ecosystems. In this review, the probable risks and toxic effects of Ag and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) on different trophic levels in freshwater and marine environments were clearly elaborated. The adverse impacts of Ag and ZnO NPs on organism's antioxidant defense system, feeding behavior, reproduction capacity, oxidative status, metabolic capacity, growth and maturation rate, and even mortality in different tropic levels were explained in the table provided. Moreover, accumulation of these nanoparticles alters biological and physicochemical parameters of the aquatic ecosystem.