Nanomaterials (Jul 2023)

Acute Aquatic Toxicity to Zebrafish and Bioaccumulation in Marine Mussels of Antimony Tin Oxide Nanoparticles

  • Ivone Pinheiro,
  • Monica Quarato,
  • Antonio Moreda-Piñeiro,
  • Ana Vieira,
  • Virginie Serin,
  • David Neumeyer,
  • Nicolas Ratel-Ramond,
  • Sébastien Joulié,
  • Alain Claverie,
  • Miguel Spuch-Calvar,
  • Miguel A. Correa-Duarte,
  • Alexandre Campos,
  • José Carlos Martins,
  • Pilar Bermejo-Barrera,
  • Marisa P. Sarriá,
  • Laura Rodriguez-Lorenzo,
  • Begoña Espiña

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13142112
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 14
p. 2112

Abstract

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Antimony tin oxide (Sb2O5/SnO2) is effective in the absorption of infrared radiation for applications, such as skylights. As a nanoparticle (NP), it can be incorporated into films or sheets providing infrared radiation attenuation while allowing for a transparent final product. The acute toxicity exerted by commercial Sb2O5/SnO2 (ATO) NPs was studied in adults and embryos of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Our results suggest that these NPs do not induce an acute toxicity in zebrafish, either adults or embryos. However, some sub-lethal parameters were altered: heart rate and spontaneous movements. Finally, the possible bioaccumulation of these NPs in the aquacultured marine mussel Mytilus sp. was studied. A quantitative analysis was performed using single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (sp-ICP-MS). The results indicated that, despite being scarce (2.31 × 106 ± 9.05 × 105 NPs/g), there is some accumulation of the ATO NPs in the mussel. In conclusion, commercial ATO NPs seem to be quite innocuous to aquatic organisms; however, the fact that some of the developmental parameters in zebrafish embryos are altered should be considered for further investigation. More in-depth analysis of these NPs transformations in the digestive tract of humans is needed to assess whether their accumulation in mussels presents an actual risk to humans.

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