Nanosilica and copper ecotoxicity in Gambusia holbrooki fish

Abstract

When silica nanoparticles (SiNP) reach the water bodies interact with the already existing pollutants in the environments. This study aimed to evaluate the ecotoxicity of SiNP under the presence/absence of Cu in mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki). Fish were exposed to 0, 10 and 100 mg SiNP L−1, alone or mixed with Cu (0.25 mg L−1). After 96 h, the amount of colony forming units (CFU) of bacteria living on the skin mucus was analysed, and oxidative stress, tissue damage enzymes, and neurotoxicity were evaluated. We observed a reduction in CFU when Cu was present in the media. The liver was the target organ, evidencing a decrease in tissue damage enzymatic activities, activation of the antioxidant system in all treatments, and lipid oxidative damage when the SiNP and Cu were mixed. Overall, SiNP ecotoxicity was proved, which could also be enhanced by the presence of ubiquitous elements such as metals.