Individual and histopathological responses of the earthworm (Eisenia fetida) to graphene oxide exposure
The increasing production and applications of graphene oxide (GO) inevitably lead to its entry into the environment. However, its potential toxicity to soil invertebrates is not yet completely known. Herein, the harmful effects of GO on the growth, survival, reproduction, and ultrastructure of earth...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014765132101188X |
| _version_ | 1819239005251698688 |
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| author | Lian Duo Yanli Wang Shulan Zhao |
| author_facet | Lian Duo Yanli Wang Shulan Zhao |
| author_sort | Lian Duo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The increasing production and applications of graphene oxide (GO) inevitably lead to its entry into the environment. However, its potential toxicity to soil invertebrates is not yet completely known. Herein, the harmful effects of GO on the growth, survival, reproduction, and ultrastructure of earthworms were thoroughly evaluated through acute and chronic toxicity experiments. In the acute toxicity experiments, earthworms were exposed to different concentrations of GO using two test methods: filter paper contact test and natural soil contact test. The lethal concentrations (LC50) for GO at 24-h and 48-h exposure were 2.52 and 2.36 mg mL-1, respectively, in the filter paper contact test and the LC50 on day 14 was 68.8 g kg-1 in the natural soil test. Histopathological observation demonstrated that serious skin and intestinal damage occurred with increasing GO concentrations. In the chronic toxicity test, earthworm growth rate and reproduction were investigated after exposure to 0, 5, 10, 20 and 30 g kg-1 GO in natural soil for 28 and 56 d. Earthworm growth was significantly inhibited after 7, 14, 21 and 28 d of GO exposure. The effect was more significant with increasing GO concentrations and exposure days. Moreover, GO exposure significantly decreased the reproductive capacity of earthworms. When earthworms were exposed to 20 g kg-1 GO for 56 d, the number and hatching rate of cocoons and the number of juveniles decreased by approximately half compared with the control. These findings indicate the potential health risk of GO to E. fetida under high concentrations and long exposure times in soil. Thus, the potential risks associated with the application of GO should receive considerable attention. This study can provide valuable information for assessing the toxicity of carbon nanomaterials in terrestrial ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T13:45:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f489d49f771840cabb38d60fd0a9cc80 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T13:45:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj.art-f489d49f771840cabb38d60fd0a9cc802022-12-21T17:44:45ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132022-01-01229113076Individual and histopathological responses of the earthworm (Eisenia fetida) to graphene oxide exposureLian Duo0Yanli Wang1Shulan Zhao2Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, ChinaCorresponding author.; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, ChinaThe increasing production and applications of graphene oxide (GO) inevitably lead to its entry into the environment. However, its potential toxicity to soil invertebrates is not yet completely known. Herein, the harmful effects of GO on the growth, survival, reproduction, and ultrastructure of earthworms were thoroughly evaluated through acute and chronic toxicity experiments. In the acute toxicity experiments, earthworms were exposed to different concentrations of GO using two test methods: filter paper contact test and natural soil contact test. The lethal concentrations (LC50) for GO at 24-h and 48-h exposure were 2.52 and 2.36 mg mL-1, respectively, in the filter paper contact test and the LC50 on day 14 was 68.8 g kg-1 in the natural soil test. Histopathological observation demonstrated that serious skin and intestinal damage occurred with increasing GO concentrations. In the chronic toxicity test, earthworm growth rate and reproduction were investigated after exposure to 0, 5, 10, 20 and 30 g kg-1 GO in natural soil for 28 and 56 d. Earthworm growth was significantly inhibited after 7, 14, 21 and 28 d of GO exposure. The effect was more significant with increasing GO concentrations and exposure days. Moreover, GO exposure significantly decreased the reproductive capacity of earthworms. When earthworms were exposed to 20 g kg-1 GO for 56 d, the number and hatching rate of cocoons and the number of juveniles decreased by approximately half compared with the control. These findings indicate the potential health risk of GO to E. fetida under high concentrations and long exposure times in soil. Thus, the potential risks associated with the application of GO should receive considerable attention. This study can provide valuable information for assessing the toxicity of carbon nanomaterials in terrestrial ecosystems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014765132101188XEarthwormGraphene oxideGrowth inhibitionReproductionUltrastructure |
| spellingShingle | Lian Duo Yanli Wang Shulan Zhao Individual and histopathological responses of the earthworm (Eisenia fetida) to graphene oxide exposure Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Earthworm Graphene oxide Growth inhibition Reproduction Ultrastructure |
| title | Individual and histopathological responses of the earthworm (Eisenia fetida) to graphene oxide exposure |
| title_full | Individual and histopathological responses of the earthworm (Eisenia fetida) to graphene oxide exposure |
| title_fullStr | Individual and histopathological responses of the earthworm (Eisenia fetida) to graphene oxide exposure |
| title_full_unstemmed | Individual and histopathological responses of the earthworm (Eisenia fetida) to graphene oxide exposure |
| title_short | Individual and histopathological responses of the earthworm (Eisenia fetida) to graphene oxide exposure |
| title_sort | individual and histopathological responses of the earthworm eisenia fetida to graphene oxide exposure |
| topic | Earthworm Graphene oxide Growth inhibition Reproduction Ultrastructure |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014765132101188X |
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