Ecotoxicological effects of zinc tungstate (ZnWO4) and copper tungstate (CuWO4) on initial stages of zebrafish: lethal and sublethal effects, and swimming behavior

• Grant number: 24/15099-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: January 28, 2025
• End date: January 27, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Elson Longo da Silva
• Grantee: Renan Castelhano Gebara
• Supervisor: Susana Patricia Mendes Loureiro
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade de Aveiro (UA), Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/13583-0 - Ecotoxicological Effects of Nanoparticles of ZnWO4 and CuWO4 On a Freshwater Planktonic Foodchain: Evaluating Possible Environmental Impacts of Emerging Contaminants, BP.PD

Abstract

The nanotechnology is considered a technological revolution in many areas of the society, but there are concerns regarding the destination of the compounds at the end of their life cycle. The semiconductors ZnWO4 e CuWO4 have potential to decontaminate persistent organic substances of the water, and these compounds may end up in aquatic ecosystems. Studies regarding the toxicity of these compounds are extremely scarce, and there are no data regarding their toxicity to fishes. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of ZnWO4 and CuWO4 on initial stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio, ZF). The animals will be husbandry according to the OECD international protocol, at 26 ± 1 °C, and 14/10h light/dark. First, the ZF embryos will be exposed to the compounds up to 96 hpf (hours post-fertilization), and we will evaluate abnormalities at sublethal concentrations, and the lethality (calculating the EC50). Moreover, we will assess the behavior of ZF larvae (120 hpf) at sublethal concentrations, using the Zebrabox equipment (these analyzes will be only possible due to the Research Internships Abroad - BEPE). At sublethal concentrations we will evaluate the activity of antioxidant enzymes of the larvae (96 hpf), such as catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). We expect that our toxicity results with the fish D. rerio can be useful to the preservation of the biota of aquatic ecosystems. The data obtained during the BEPE will complement the results obtained during the post-doctorate research in Brazil, in which we evaluated the effects of these compounds to a microalga (Raphidocelis subcapitata), and to a Neotropical cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia silvestrii). Therefore, we will evaluate the toxicity of CuWO4 and ZnWO4 to aquatic organisms of three trophic levels.

Scientific publications

(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)

MORUZZI, BRUNA CARIO CORNACHIONI; DA SILVA, LAIS CONCEICAO MENEZES; GEBARA, RENAN CASTELHANO; MONTAGNER, CASSIANA C.; LONGO, ELSON; GAETA ESPINDOLA, EVALDO LUIZ; MOREIRA, RAQUEL APARECIDA. Feeding responses of cladocerans exposed to pesticides: comparison between Ceriodaphnia silvestrii and Ceriodaphnia dubia. CHEMISTRY AND ECOLOGY, v. N/A, p. 15-pg., 2025-04-10. (24/15099-7, 17/24126-4, 21/13583-0, 13/07296-2)