Silver, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticle ecotoxicity to bioluminescent Pseudomonas putida in laboratory medium and artificial wastewater

Bacteria based ecotoxicology assessment of manufactured nanoparticles is largely restricted to Escherichia coli bioreporters in laboratory media. Here, toxicity effects of model OECD nanoparticles (Ag NM-300K, ZnO NM-110 and TiO2 NM-104) were assessed using the switch-off luminescent Pseudomonas putida BS566::luxCDABE bioreporter in Luria Bertani (LB) medium and artificial wastewater (AW). 1050 values similar to 4 mg L-1, 100 mg L-1 and >200 mg L-1 at 1 h were observed in LB for Ag NM-300K, ZnO NM-110 and TiO2 NM-104, respectively. Similar results were obtained in AW for Ag NM-300K (IC50 similar to 5 mg L-1) and TiO2 NM-104 (IC50 >200 mg L-1) whereas ZnO NM-110 was significantly higher (IC50 >200 mg L-1). Lower ZnO NM-110 toxicity in AW compared to LB was associated with differences in agglomeration status and dissolution rate. This work demonstrates the importance of nanoecotoxicological studies in environmentally relevant matrices. (C)2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.