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Sensitivity to different sizes of silver nanoparticles in the early life stages of two Mediterranean sea urchins Arbacia lixula (Linnaeus, 1758) and Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816)

There is increasing evidence that engineered nanoparticles can reach brackish and coastal marine waters and pose a serious threat to biota living in those environmental compartments. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different sizes of silver nanoparticles (diameters of 10, 20, 40, 60 and 100 nm) on the embryonal development of two Mediterranean sea urchin species (Arbacia lixula and Paracentrotus lividus) and compare differences in sensitivity levels between the two species. Embryos were exposed two hours post fertilisation to a range of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) sizes and concentrations (1 - 1000 µg L-1) and after 48 hours the percentage of normally developed, retarded/deformed and undeveloped larvae were scored. Nanoparticle concentrations of 1 and 10 µg L-1 showed no statistically significant effect while the smallest AgNP diameters (10 and 20 nm) showed a significant decrease in the percentage of normally developed A. lixula larvae at a concentration of 50 µg L-1 whilst P. lividus larvae showed a statistically significant decrease in normally developed larvae at 100 µg L-1. AgNPs of 40 nm diameter showed a similar response in both species while AgNPs with the largest diameters (60 and 100 nm) showed a dose dependent response with more than 50% retarded larvae at the highest tested concentrations (500 or 1000 µg L-1). These findings show that A. lixula embryos are more sensitive to AgNPs than the P. lividus embryos, indicating that the former may be a more appropriate gatekeeper species for determining nanoparticle embryotoxicity.

Arbacia lixula, embryo, Paracentrotus lividus, sea urchin, silver nanoparticle

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