Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar, 470003, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Metagenomics and Secretomics Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Allahabad (A Central University), Uttar Pradesh, Prayagraj, 211002, India.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2024 Oct;31(47):57789-57803. doi: 10.1007/s11356-024-34900-8. Epub 2024 Sep 18.
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are commonly used in both commercial and agricultural sectors. As a result, ZnO-NPs are extensively discharged into soil ecosystems, creating a significant environmental issue. Therefore, it is crucial to assess their influence on the soil ecology to ensure its secure and enduring utilization in the future. The exact degree of toxicity associated with ZnO-NPs and their ionic form is still uncertain. To address the challenges, the study used the soil bioindicator earthworm species Eudrilus eugeniae as an experimental model to evaluate the effects of two zinc species (ZnO-NPs and ZnCl) at 100, 250, 500, and 750 mg kg and control (0 mg kg) in garden soil over 28 days. The investigation also examined the impact of exposure on survival, reproduction, neuro-biomarker, avoidance behavior, and accumulation. The highest avoidance rates were 27.5% for ZnO-NP and 37.5% for ZnCl at 750 mg kg. ZnCl treatment reduced juvenile production by 3.73 ± 1.73, while ZnO-NPs showed 4.67 ± 1.15. At 750 mg kg, soils with ZnCl (63.3%) demonstrated lower survival rates than those with ZnO-NPs (53.3%), likely because of higher Zn ion levels. After 28 days of exposure, ZnCl (536.32 ± 11 mol min) activated AChE enzymes more than ZnO-NPs (497.7 ± 59 mol min) at the same dose, compared to control (145.88 ± 28 to 149.41 ± 23 mol min). Nanoparticles and zinc ions bioaccumulated and reacted negatively with the neurotoxic marker AChE, affecting earthworm reproduction and behavior. However, earthworms exposed to ZnCl exhibited less intestinal Zn than those exposed to NPs. The present work contradicts the finding that ZnO-NPs have hazardous effects on soil organisms. The results indicate that earthworm E. eugeniae may significantly affect soil metal uptake from metallic nanoparticles (NPs). This may help design NP soil pollution mitigation strategies. The study offers valuable information for establishing a relationship between the environmental toxicity of ZnO-NPs and soil ecosystems.
氧化锌纳米粒子（ZnO-NPs）广泛应用于商业和农业领域。因此，ZnO-NPs 大量排放到土壤生态系统中，造成了重大的环境问题。因此，评估它们对土壤生态的影响对于确保其未来的安全和持久利用至关重要。ZnO-NPs 及其离子形式的确切毒性程度尚不确定。为了解决这些挑战，该研究使用土壤生物指示剂蚯蚓物种赤子爱胜蚓作为实验模型，在花园土壤中评估了两种锌物质（ZnO-NPs 和 ZnCl）在 100、250、500 和 750 mg/kg 以及对照（0 mg/kg）条件下对 28 天的影响。该研究还检查了暴露对生存、繁殖、神经生物标志物、回避行为和积累的影响。ZnO-NP 和 ZnCl 的最高回避率分别为 750 mg/kg 时的 27.5%和 37.5%。ZnCl 处理使幼体产量减少了 3.73±1.73，而 ZnO-NPs 则减少了 4.67±1.15。在 750 mg/kg 时，含 ZnCl 的土壤（63.3%）的存活率低于含 ZnO-NPs 的土壤（53.3%），这可能是因为 Zn 离子水平较高。暴露 28 天后，ZnCl（536.32±11 mol min）在相同剂量下比 ZnO-NPs（497.7±59 mol min）更能激活 AChE 酶，而对照（145.88±28 至 149.41±23 mol min）。纳米颗粒和锌离子在体内积累，并与神经毒性标志物 AChE 发生负反应，影响蚯蚓的繁殖和行为。然而，暴露于 ZnCl 的蚯蚓肠道中的 Zn 含量低于暴露于 NPs 的蚯蚓。本研究与 ZnO-NPs 对土壤生物具有危害性影响的发现相矛盾。结果表明，赤子爱胜蚓可能会显著影响土壤对金属纳米颗粒（NPs）中金属的吸收。这可能有助于设计减轻 NP 土壤污染的策略。该研究为建立 ZnO-NPs 对土壤生态系统的环境毒性之间的关系提供了有价值的信息。
