ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effects of ZnO, TiO2 or Fe2O3 Nanoparticles
on the Body Mass, Reproduction,
and Survival of Eisenia fetida
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1
Sustainability of Natural Resources and Energy Program, Cinvestav-Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico
2
Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus Montecillo, Carretera Mexico-Texcoco, Mexico
3
Transdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Scientific and Technological Development for Society, Cinvestav,
Zacatenco, Mexico City, Mexico
4
Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico
Submission date: 2017-11-30
Final revision date: 2018-03-01
Acceptance date: 2018-12-11
Online publication date: 2020-02-10
Publication date: 2020-03-31
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(3):2383-2394
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ABSTRACT
The increasing production of nanoparticles and its byproducts bring as a priority the necessity
of understanding the interaction between earthworms and nanoparticles (NPs) in an agricultural soil.
The present study addresses the effects of ZnO-, TiO2- or Fe2O3-NPs in the body mass change, reproduction
and survival of Eisenia fetida. Earthworms were exposed to increasing concentrations of each NPs
(0.0, 0.15 and 0.3 g NPs kg-1 dry soil, in an amended soil while total and bioavailable Zn, Ti and Fe were
monitored in an aerobic incubation experiment of 60 days. Earthworms exposed to 0.15 g TiO2-NPs
kg-1 dry soil and 0.3 g ZnO-NPs kg-1 dry soil did not lead to adults’ deaths. However, when soil was
amended with 0.15 g Fe2O3-NPs kg-1 dry soil the survival decreased significantly compared with the
control treatment. Cocoon production was not significantly different between treatments, suggesting that
NPs have no effect on earthworm reproduction. ZnO-NPs at 0.3 g kg-1 dry soil enhanced juveniles on
growing and survival. Although bioaccumulation of Ti in earthworm biomass was not statically different
in treatments spiked with TiO2-NPs, there were significant differences between treatments amended
with different doses of ZnO- and Fe2O3-NPs, showing that bioaccumulation of Zn and Fe in earthworms
increases on par with dose. Meanwhile, the Fe bioaccumulation was significantly lower in earthworms
exposed to Fe2O3-NPs than those in the control group.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.