Multimodal action and selective toxicity of zerovalent iron nanoparticles against cyanobacteria
Language English Country United States Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PubMed
22242974
DOI
10.1021/es2031483
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- MeSH
- Araceae drug effects growth & development MeSH
- Water Purification methods MeSH
- Daphnia drug effects physiology MeSH
- Sinapis drug effects growth & development MeSH
- Plant Roots drug effects growth & development MeSH
- Metal Nanoparticles toxicity MeSH
- Water Pollutants * analysis MeSH
- Plant Leaves drug effects growth & development MeSH
- Microcystis drug effects growth & development MeSH
- Water Microbiology MeSH
- Microcystins analysis MeSH
- Scenedesmus drug effects growth & development MeSH
- Iron toxicity MeSH
- Poecilia MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Water Pollutants * MeSH
- Microcystins MeSH
- Iron MeSH
Cyanobacteria pose a serious threat to water resources around the world. This is compounded by the fact that they are extremely resilient, having evolved numerous protective mechanisms to ensure their dominant position in their ecosystem. We show that treatment with nanoparticles of zerovalent iron (nZVI) is an effective and environmentally benign method for destroying and preventing the formation of cyanobacterial water blooms. The nanoparticles have multiple modes of action, including the removal of bioavailable phosphorus, the destruction of cyanobacterial cells, and the immobilization of microcystins, preventing their release into the water column. Ecotoxicological experiments showed that nZVI is a highly selective agent, having an EC(50) of 50 mg/L against cyanobacteria; this is 20-100 times lower than its EC(50) for algae, daphnids, water plants, and fishes. The primary product of nZVI treatment is nontoxic and highly aggregated Fe(OH)(3), which promotes flocculation and gradual settling of the decomposed cyanobacterial biomass.
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