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Antibacterial Activity Comparison of Three Metal Oxide Nanoparticles and their Dissolved Metal Ions
Author(s) -
Qin Qiang,
Li Jiayin,
Wang Jianbing
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143017x14839994523262
Subject(s) - ecotoxicity , metal , titanium dioxide , oxide , nanoparticle , nanomaterials , chemistry , toxicity , zinc , metal ions in aqueous solution , metal toxicity , inorganic chemistry , nuclear chemistry , environmental chemistry , copper , materials science , nanotechnology , metallurgy , organic chemistry
The potential ecotoxicity of three metal‐oxide nanoparticles (NPs) toward Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) was investigated, including titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), copper oxide (CuO), and zinc oxide (ZnO). The true particle sizes of NPs in medium were significantly larger than the advertised sizes. Bacterial toxicity tests showed that the three NPs were harmful to varying degrees. The toxicity of CuO toward E. coli increased with the increasing concentration of CuO. The toxicity of ZnO and TiO 2 toward E. coli was highest at NP concentration of 5 and 20 mg/L, respectively, but decreased when the NP concentration was higher, which is closely related with the nanoparticle sizes. Ion toxicity further demonstrated that dissolved metal ions were also responsible for the toxicity of CuO and ZnO. These results highlight the need for caution during the use and disposal of such manufactured nanomaterials to prevent unintended environmental impacts.