Genotoxic Assessment of Different Sizes of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Ionic Iron in Earthworm (Eisenia hortensis) Coelomocytes by Comet Assay and Micronucleus Test

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2018 Jul;101(1):105-109. doi: 10.1007/s00128-018-2364-y. Epub 2018 May 25.

Abstract

The current study was designed to evaluate genotoxicity of different sizes of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) and ionic iron using coelomocytes of the earthworms Eisenia hortensis. Earthworms were exposed to different series of IONPs and ionic iron concentrations to find the respective LC50 of the chosen chemicals. LC50 for < 50, <100 nm and the ionic iron of IONPs were 500, 200, 250 µg/mL respectively. Concentrations of LC50/2 (250, 100, 125 µg/mL for < 50, <100 nm and the ionic iron respectively) and LC50 for 48 h were used to perform the comet assay and micronucleus test. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in DNA and chromosomal damage was observed for all sizes of IONPs and ionic iron. In the comet assay system, the greatest genotoxicity was observed in the treatments with < 100 nm IONPs, whereas the greatest numbers of micronuclei and binucleate cells were observed in the treatments with ionic iron. It was concluded that different types of nanoparticles (i.e. sizes, shapes) may have different genotoxic potencies in different assays with E. hortensis earthworms.

Keywords: Chromosomal aberrations; DNA damage; Earthworms; Iron oxide; Nanoparticles; Particle size.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Comet Assay
  • DNA Damage / drug effects*
  • Ferric Compounds / chemistry
  • Ferric Compounds / toxicity*
  • Ions / chemistry
  • Ions / toxicity*
  • Micronucleus Tests
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanoparticles / toxicity*
  • Oligochaeta / drug effects*

Substances

  • Ferric Compounds
  • Ions
  • ferric oxide