Ecotoxicological effects of dietary titanium dioxide nanoparticles on metabolic and biochemical parameters of model organism (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

Nanoparticles (NPs) are now being used in many industrial activities, such as mining, paint and glass industries. The frequent industrial use of NPs contributes to environmental pollution and may cause cellular and oxidative damage in native organisms. In this study, the toxic effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO NPs) were investigated using larvae as a model insect species. Alterations in cell damage indicators, such as alanine transferase, aspartate transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, non-enzymatic antioxidants and biochemical parameters, were determined in the hemolymph of larvae exposed to TiO NPs at different concentrations (5, 50, 250 and 1250 μg/mL) in their diets. TiO NPs caused concentration-dependent cellular damage in the hemolymph of larvae and increased the levels of the non-enzymatic antioxidants uric acid and bilirubin. In addition, total protein in hemolymph significantly decreased at the highest concentration (1250 μg/mL) of TiO NPs. Level of the urea increased at the highest concentration (1250 μg/mL) of TiO NPs, whereas the amount of glucose was not affected. These findings demonstrated that TiO NPs caused concentration-dependent toxic effects on larvae.