Toxicity of TiO2, SiO2, ZnO, CuO, Au and Ag engineered nanoparticles on hatching and early nauplii of Artemia sp.

The potential of environmental release enhances with increased commercial applications of the nanomaterials. A simple and efficient test to estimate the acute toxicity of nanoparticles is carried out in this work using Artemia species and their hatching rate. We have tested six different engineered nanoparticles (silver, gold, copper oxide, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and silicon nanoparticles) and three soluble salts (CuSO4, ZnSO4 and AgNO3) on Artemia sp. The physiochemical properties of the nanoparticles involved in this study are estimated and their properties in normal water and marine water were analyzed. Hydrated and bleached Artemia cysts were allowed to hatch in continuously aerated, filtered sterile salt water containing nanoparticles; hatching of viable nauplii vs total hatchlings were recorded. In parallel, Standard Artemia toxicity test was conducted on the nauplii monitoring the viability. A comparison of results obtained in both experiments is discussed. The toxicity of the nanoparticles was compared and the order of toxicity is estimated as Ag>CuO>ZnO>Au>TiO2>SiO2.