Environmental impacts of CoWO4 and NiWO4 nanoparticles on trophic levels of an aquatic food chain

• Grant number: 21/13607-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2022
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Elson Longo da Silva
• Grantee: Cínthia Bruno de Abreu
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials, AP.CEPID
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/15098-0 - Evaluating the toxicity of Cobalt Tungstate Nanoparticles (CoWO4-NPs) and Nickel Tungstate Nanoparticles (NiWO4-NPs) to Danio rerio embryos, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

The increasing production and use of nanoparticles (NPs; < 100 nm) of cobalt tungstate (CoWO4) and nickel tungstate (NiWO4) in environmental and technological areas contributes to the presence of these contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. Although several studies report the toxicity of NPs to aquatic biota, the toxic potential of CoWO4 and NiWO4 on freshwater organisms is still unknown. In light of this, the aim of this research is to evaluate the effects and mechanisms of toxicity, via multiple parameters, of CoWO4 and NiWO4 NPs on three trophic levels of a planktonic food chain, composed by the chlorophycean Raphidocelis subcapitata (primary producer), the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia silvestri (primary consumer) and the fish Hyphessobrycon eques (secondary consumer). These Neotropical species will be exposed to different concentrations of the NPs in order to determine the toxicity of these materials to the test organisms by assessing population, morphological, biochemical, physiological/metabolic and reproductive parameters. In addition, microcrustaceans will be exposed by two routes, medium and contaminated food, which will allow investigation of bioaccumulation and transfer of NPs in this food chain. The evaluated species make up the base of aquatic food chains and contact of organisms with the NPs can be bioaccumulated and consequently transferred to the food chains. Therefore, any damage to these trophic levels can have consequences throughout the aquatic trophic web, causing imbalance throughout the ecosystem. With this study, it is expected to determine the main toxicity mechanisms responsible for possible deleterious effects of CoWO4 and NiWO4 NPs on microalgae, cladocerans and fish, from a complete and integrated approach, which includes the risk assessment of cobalt and nickel NPs in tropical freshwater bodies by obtaining reference values that will allow the risk of these NPs to be quantitatively characterized, in order to provide valuable information that may subsidize regulatory actions aimed at protecting aquatic biota. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE ABREU, CINTHIA BRUNO; GEBARA, RENAN CASTELHANO; ROCHA, GISELI SWERTS; MANSANO, ADRISLAINE DA SILVA; ASSIS, MARCELO; PEREIRA, THALLES MARANESI; VIRTUOSO, LUCIANO SINDRA; MOREIRA, AILTON JOSE; SANTOS, MYKAELLI ANDRADE; MELAO, MARIA DA GRACA GAMA; et al. The effects of nickel tungstate nanoparticles (NiWO₄ NPs) on freshwater microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata (Chlorophyceae). INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGY, v. N/A, p. 13-pg., 2025-01-09. (18/07988-5, 21/13607-7, 21/13583-0, 22/06219-3, 13/07296-2)

DOS REIS, LARISSA LUIZA; DE ABREU, CINTHIA BRUNO; GEBARA, RENAN CASTELHANO; ROCHA, GISELI SWERTS; LONGO, ELSON; MANSANO, ADRISLAINE DA SILVA; MELAO, MARIA DA GRACA GAMA. Isolated and combined effects of cobalt and nickel on the microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata. ECOTOXICOLOGY, v. 33, n. 1, p. 15-pg., 2024-01-18. (13/07296-2, 18/07988-5, 21/13583-0, 21/13607-7)

GEBARA, RENAN CASTELHANO; DE ABREU, CINTHIA BRUNO; ROCHA, GISELI SWERTS; MANSANO, ADRISLAINE DA SILVA; ASSIS, MARCELO; MOREIRA, AILTON JOSE; SANTOS, MYKAELLI ANDRADE; PEREIRA, THALLES MARANESI; VIRTUOSO, LUCIANO SINDRA; MELAO, MARIA DA GRACA GAMA; et al. Harmful effects of the semiconductor copper tungstate (CuWO4) on multiple photosynthetic parameters of the green microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY, v. 279, p. 8-pg., 2025-01-15. (14/14139-3, 18/07988-5, 21/13607-7, 21/13583-0, 22/06219-3, 13/07296-2)

DOS REIS, LARISSA LUIZA; DE ABREU, CINTHIA BRUNO; GEBARA, RENAN CASTELHANO; ROCHA, GISELI SWERTS; LONGO, ELSON; MANSANO, ADRISLAINE DA SILVA; MELAO, MARIA DA GRACA GAMA. Effects of Cadmium and Nickel Mixtures on Multiple Endpoints of the Microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. N/A, p. 15-pg., 2024-06-12. (13/07296-2, 18/07988-5, 21/13583-0, 21/13607-7)