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Toxicity of environmental nanosilver: mechanism and assessment

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Abstract

Nanosilver (nAg) is increasingly being used in a wide array of fields, and its toxicity has been extensively studied. Here we present a review of environmental nAg cytotoxicity, as well toxicity mechanisms. The cytotoxicity is described in four aspects including cell membrane, the genome, the mitochondria and autophagy flux. Considering its broad-spectrum antibiotic effects, nAg ecotoxicity is described, in addition to an analysis of factors necessary in controlling its toxicity. We propose a toxicity assessment model with potential applications to living organisms, based on the antibacterial effects of nAg.

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Abbreviations

Nanosilver:

Zero-valence in nano-size, including silver nanoparticle, silver nanorod, silver nanocube, and silver nanoplate

Cytotoxicity:

Toxicity to a specific cell

Ecotoxicity:

Toxicity to a biotic community

TCA cycle:

Tricarboxylic acid cycle, a series of enzyme-catalyzed chemical reactions of central importance in living cells to provide energy

Autophagy:

Self-degradation of cytoplasmic components including organelles

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (JZ2018HGBZ0162), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51521006 and 51508186), and the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (IRT-13R17).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, People’s Republic of China

    Zhi Guo & Kangping Cui

  2. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, People’s Republic of China

    Guangming Zeng

  3. Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410082, People’s Republic of China

    Guangming Zeng

  4. College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, People’s Republic of China

    Anwei Chen

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  1. Zhi Guo
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  2. Guangming Zeng
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  3. Kangping Cui
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Correspondence to Zhi Guo or Guangming Zeng.

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Guo, Z., Zeng, G., Cui, K. et al. Toxicity of environmental nanosilver: mechanism and assessment. Environ Chem Lett 17, 319–333 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-018-0800-1

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