Search for: All records

Nanoparticles (NPs) typically display a wide distribution of different sizes in aquatic environments, yet little information is available on the impact of particle size dispersity on organismal uptake and elimination. This study investigated uptake and elimination of polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated platinum nanoparticles (PVP-PtNPs) of different sizes ( e.g. , 20.0 ± 4.8 nm, 40.5 ± 4.1 nm, and 70.8 ± 4.2 nm) by the estuarine amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus . Accumulation and elimination were determined by measuring total Pt body burden in amphipods exposed to PtNPs using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy, as well as the mass and number PtNP body burden using single particle-ICP-MS (sp-ICP-MS). L. plumulosus accumulated Pt from PtNP suspensions of different sizes from water exposure, mostly ( e.g. , >90%) as PtNPs rather than as dissolved Pt. Mass- and number-based uptake increased with decreases in PtNP size whereas mass- and number-based elimination increased with increasing PtNP size. The residual whole-animal body burden of PtNPs after 48 h elimination increased with decreases in PtNP size, with residual body burdens approximately two-fold higher for amphipods exposed to 20 nm PtNPs than amphipods exposed to 70 nm PtNPs. PtNP influx rate ( k uw ) increased with decreasing NP size, with k uw s of 1.07 ± 0.31, 0.82 ± 0.22, and 0.67 ± 0.10 μg g −1 d −1 for 20 nm, 40 nm, and 70 nm PtNPs, respectively. PtNP efflux rate ( k e ) increased with increasing PtNP size, with k e s of 0.31 ± 0.08, 0.66 ± 0.04, and 0.83 ± 0.07 d −1 for 20 nm, 40 nm, and 70 nm PtNP, respectively. When exposed to mixtures of 40 and 70 nm PtNPs with equal masses, surface areas, or number concentrations of 40 nm and 70 nm PtNPs, L. plumulosus accumulated higher numbers of the 40 nm PtNPs than 70 nm PtNPs from all mixtures. The increased exposure concentration of 70 nm PtNPs in the mixture did not affect the uptake of 40 nm PtNPs, suggesting that in a polydispersed NP suspension the uptake of a given size fraction is independent of other size fractions in the mixture. 

Environmental contextStudies of manufactured nanoparticles (NPs) in the environment have been performed almost exclusively at high NP concentrations. These data lead to misunderstandings related to NP fate and effects at relevant environmental concentrations, which are expected to be low. A better understanding of the concentration-dependent behaviour of NPs will improve our understanding of their fate and effects under environmentally realistic conditions.AbstractThis rapid communication highlights the importance of nanoparticle concentration in determining their environmental fate and behaviour. Notably, two fate processes have been considered: dissolution and aggregation. The decrease in nanoparticle concentration results in increased dissolution and decreased aggregate sizes, inferring higher potential for environmental transport of nanoparticles.