Skip to main content

Effects of TiO2 nanoparticles on the growth and metabolism of three species of freshwater algae

Journal of Nanoparticle Research volume 14, Article number: 913 (2012) Cite this article

Abstract

We examined how TiO2 nanoparticles (nTiO2) impact the growth and metabolism of three species of freshwater green algae (Scenedesmus quadricauda, Chlamydomonas moewusii, and Chlorella vulgaris) that are widespread throughout North America. We exposed laboratory cultures to five initial concentrations of nTiO2 (0, 50, 100, 200, and 300 ppm) and measured impacts on species population growth rates, as well as on metabolic rates of gross primary production (GPP) and respiration (R). Population growth rates were consistently reduced by nTiO2, with reduction ranging from 11 to 27 % depending on the species. But the mechanisms of reduction differed among species. For Chlamydomonas, nTiO2 reduced both GPP and R, but effects on GPP were stronger. As a consequence, carbon was respired more quickly than it was fixed, leading to reduced growth. In contrast, nTiO2 stimulated both GPP and R in Chorella. But because R was stimulated to a greater extent than GPP, carbon loss again exceeded fixation, leading to reduced growth. For Scenedesmus, nTiO2 had no significant impact on R, but reduced GPP. This pattern also caused carbon loss to exceed fixation. Results suggest that nTiO2 may generally suppress the growth of pelagic algae, but these impacts are manifest through contrasting effects on species-specific metabolic functions. Because growth and metabolism of algae are fundamental to the functioning of ecosystems and the structure of aquatic food-webs, our study suggests nTiO2 has potential to alter important community and ecosystem properties of freshwater habitats.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1

References

  • Borm P, Robbins D, Haubold S, Kuhlbusch T, Fissan H, Donaldson K et al (2006) The potential risks of nanomaterials: a review carried out for ECETOC. Part Fibre Toxicol 3:1–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bott TL (1996) Primary production and community respiration. In: Hauer FR, Lamberti GA (eds) Methods in stream ecology. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 533–556

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunet L, Lyon D, Hotze EM, Alvarez PJJ, Wiesner MR (2009) Comparative photoactivity and antibacterial properties of C60 fullerenes and titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Environ Sci Technol 43:4355–4360

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Colvin VL (2003) The potential environmental impact of engineered nanomaterials. Nat Biotechnol 21:1166–1170

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farre M, Gajda-Schrantz K, Kantiani L, Barcelo D (2009) Ecotoxicity and analysis of nanomaterials in the aquatic environment. Anal Bioanal Chem 393:81–95

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao FQ, Liu C, Qu CX, Zheng L, Yang F, Su MG, Hong FH (2008) Was improvement of spinach growth by nano-TiO2 treatment related to the changes of Rubisco activase? Biometals 21:211–217

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Griffitt RJ, Luo J, Gao J, Bonzongo JC, Barber DS (2008) Effects of particle composition and species on toxicity of metallic nanomaterials in aquatic organisms. Environ Toxicol Chem 27:1972–1978

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guzman KAD, Taylor MR, Banfield JF (2006) Environmental risks of nanotechnology: national nanotechnology initiative funding, 2000–2004. Environ Sci Technol 40:1401–1407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall S, Bradley T, Moore JT, Kuykindall T, Minella L (2009) Acute and chronic toxicity of nano-scale TiO2 particles to freshwater fish, cladocerans, and green algae, and effects of organic and inorganic substrate on TiO2 toxicity. Nanotoxicology 3:91–97

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Handy RD, Shaw BJ (2007) Toxic effects of nanoparticles and nanomaterials: implications for public health, risk assessment and the public perception of nanotechnology. Health Risk Soc 9:125–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Handy RD, Owen R, Valsami-Jones E (2008) The ecotoxicology of nanoparticles and nanomaterials: current status, knowledge gaps, challenges, and future needs. Ecotoxicology 17:315–325

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hashimoto K, Irie H, Fujishima A (2005) TiO2 photocatalysis: a historical overview and future prospects. Jpn J Appl Phys 44:8269–8285

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heinlaan M, Ivask A, Blinova I, Dubourguier HC, Kahru A (2008) Toxicity of nanosized and bulk ZnO, CuO and TiO2 to bacteria Vibrio fischeri and crustaceans Daphnia magna and Thamnocephalus platyurus. Chemosphere 71:1308–1316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hong FH, Zhou J, Liu C, Yang F, Wu C, Zheng L, Yang P (2005) Effect of nano-TiO2 on photochemical reaction of chloroplasts of spinach. Biol Trace Elem Res 105:269–279

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hund-Rinke K, Simon M (2006) Ecotoxic effect of photocatalytic active nanoparticles TiO2 on algae and daphnids. Environ Sci Pollut Res 13:225–232

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jeffryes C, Gutu T, Jiao J, Rorrer GL (2008) Metabolic insertion of nanostructured TiO2 into the patterned biosilica of the diatom Pinnularia sp by a two-stage bioreactor cultivation process. ACS Nano 2:2103–2112

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ju-Nam Y, Lead JR (2008) Manufactured nanoparticles: an overview of their chemistry, interactions and potential environmental implications. Sci Total Environ 400:396–414

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaegi R, Ulrich A, Sinnet B, Vonbank R, Wichser A, Zuleeg S, Simmler H, Brunner S, Vonmont H, Burkhardt M, Boller M (2008) Synthetic TiO2 nanoparticle emission from exterior facades into the aquatic environment. Environ Pollut 156:233–239

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kahru A, Dubourguier HC (2010) From ecotoxicology to nanoecotoxicology. Toxicology 269:105–119

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keller AA, Wang HT, Zhou DX, Lenihan HS, Cherr G, Cardinale BJ, Miller R, Ji ZX (2010) Stability and aggregation of metal oxide nanoparticles in natural aqueous matrices. Environ Sci Technol 44:1962–1967

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SC, Lee DK (2005) Preparation of TiO2-coated hollow glass beads and their application to the control of algal growth in eutrophic water. Microchem J 80:227–232

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lei Z, Su MY, Xiao W, Chao L, Qu CX, Liang C, Hao H, Liu XQ, Hong FS (2007) Effects of nano-anatase on spectral characteristics and distribution of LHCII on the thylakoid membranes of spinach. Biol Trace Elem Res 120:273–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lovern SB, Strickler JR, Klaper R (2007) Behavioral and physiological changes in Daphnia magna when exposed to nanoparticle suspensions (titanium dioxide, nano-C-60, and C(60)HxC(70)Hx). E. Environ Sci Technol 41:4465–4470

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller NC, Nowack B (2008) Exposure modeling of engineered nanoparticles in the environment. Environ Sci Technol 42:4447–4453

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neal AL (2008) What can be inferred from bacterium–nanoparticle interactions about the potential consequences of environmental exposure to nanoparticles? Ecotoxicology 17:362–371

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nel A, Xia T, Madler L, Li N (2006) Toxic potential of materials at the nanolevel. Science 311:622–627

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reeves JF, Davies SJ, Dodd NJF, Jha AN (2008) Hydroxyl radicals ((OH)-O-center dot) are associated with titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticle-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative DNA damage in fish cells. M. Mutat Res Fundam Mol Mech Mutagen 640:113–122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rejeski D (2009) Project on emerging nanotechnologies. Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. http://www.nanotechproject.org/. Accessed 18 August 2009

  • Scown TM, van Aerle R, Tyler CR (2010) Review: do engineered nanoparticles pose a significant threat to the aquatic environment? Crit Rev Toxicol 40:653–670

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sugibayashi K, Todo H, Kimura E (2008) Safety evaluation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles by their absorption and elimination profiles. J Toxicol Sci 33:293–298

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Velzeboer I, Hendriks AJ, Ragas AMJ, Van de Meent D (2008) Aquatic ecotoxicity tests of some nanomaterials. Environ Toxicol Chem 27:1942–1947

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Warheit DB (2010) Debunking some misconceptions about nanotoxicology. Nano Lett 10(12):4777–4782

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe MM (2005) Freshwater culture media. In: Andersen RA (ed) Algal culturing techniques. Academic Press, New York, pp 13–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel RG (1983) Limnology. Saunders College Publishing, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel RG, Likens GE (2000) Limnological analyses. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the National Science Foundation and Environmental Protection Agency under Cooperative Agreement # NSF-EF0830117. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the Environmental Protection Agency.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Natural Resources & Environment, University of Michigan, 440 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Bradley J. Cardinale

  2. Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA

    Raven Bier

  3. Department of Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA

    Raven Bier & Courtney Kwan

Authors
  1. Bradley J. Cardinale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Raven Bier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Courtney Kwan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bradley J. Cardinale.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 545 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cardinale, B.J., Bier, R. & Kwan, C. Effects of TiO2 nanoparticles on the growth and metabolism of three species of freshwater algae. J Nanopart Res 14, 913 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-012-0913-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-012-0913-6

Keywords

  • Titanium dioxide
  • Nanomaterials
  • Lakes
  • Primary production
  • Nanobiotechnology