Acute and Chonic Effects of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) on Unio delicatus

Abstract

The widespread use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) including water filters, paints, cosmetics, deodorants, clothing, textiles, food packaging, electrical appliances and medical devices inevitably leads to their release into the natural environment, bioaccumulation in organisms and persistent accumulation in natural aquatic systems. The aim of this study is to investigate the acute and chronic effects of silver nanoparticles, which can contaminate aquatic ecosystems, in freshwater mussels, one of the aquatic invertebrate organisms. The model organism of the study, Unio delicatus, was obtained from Gölbaşı Lake (Hatay). After that acclimation was performed in the laboratory for two weeks. The mussels were then exposed to 1 and 10 mg/L AgNPs for 7 and 21 days. At the end of the exposure period, hemolymph and tissue samples of the mussels were taken. Total hemocyte count from hemolymph samples, lipid peroxidation and glutathione levels from tissue samples (digestive gland and gill) were investigated. Acute exposure resulted in an increase in the total hemocyte counts, while chronic exposure resulted in a significant decrease (P<0.05). Changes in lipid peroxidation and glutathione levels in gill and digestive gland tissues of mussels also occurred but not significantly. In conclusion, AgNPs caused changes in physiological and biochemical parameters of freshwater mussels.