Impact of metal nanoparticles on the ecology of aquatic biocenosis and microbial communities (Review)

Abstract

This review contains analysis and generalization of data about aquatic ecotoxicity of metal nanoparticles study. This study showed the effect of their impact on the viability of protozoa, algae, microbial communities. A multi-level approach proves to be important as it considers the main characteristics of the studied materials: solubility, agglomeration, degradation. The transformation in the aquatic environment is important in the study of aquatic ecotoxicity. For assessing the state of environment in ecotoxicological experiments, the Great Daphnia (Daphnia magna) was used as a critical organism of the freshwater ecosystem, due to its high sensitivity to environmental pollution, small body size, and short lifespan. In this regard, numerous studies on the effect of nanoparticles on the state of aquatic ecosystem are carried out on Daphnia magna. The review presents some methodological approaches to test the toxicity of nanoparticles in aquatic environment and assessing their stability. It is proposed to carry out a total assessment of the effect based on the content of pollutants in water with different toxic potentials, given that organisms, including aquatic organisms, are rarely exposed to certain chemicals. A promising approach to the assessment of cytotoxicity is high-throughput screening (HTS), which offers the opportunity to quickly test the effects of nanoparticles on bacteria in parallel in several concentrations. Algae are the most important participants in ecosystem and main components of the food chain. It allows recommending them as a marker when monitoring the environmental pollution by metal nanoparticles. Particular attention is paid to perspectives for further wider use of nanostructured products as adsorbents in wastewater treatment and recultivation processes. Search and selection of sources for review carried out in open databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and RSCI (Russian Science Citation Index) for 2007 - 2018 period.