Effect of TiO2 and CeO2 nanoparticles on the metabolic activity of surficial sediment microbial communities based on oxygen microelectrodes and high-throughput sequencing

Abstract

Environmental concerns regarding the potential ecological risks of metallic oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) in aquatic ecosystems are increasing; sediment is considered a sink for these MNPs. Although several studies have studied the potential impact of MNPs on microbial communities in freshwater and estuarine sediments, limited information is available regarding the influence of MNPs on the metabolic activity of surficial sediment microbial communities and related biogeochemical conditions. To address these issues, a microcosm approach was established to study the metabolic response of surficial sediment microbial communities to a single addition of TiO₂ or CeO₂ NPs (5 mg/L) using oxygen microelectrodes, enzyme activity measurements, and high-throughput sequencing. Rapid sedimentation of MNPs (regardless of NP type) was observed in freshwater samples, and most (up to 85%) accumulated in surface sediments (<5 mm). Microelectrode profile measurements in pre-incubated sediments treated with MNPs showed that the oxygen concentration decreased at a slower rate with increasing sediment depth compared to that in untreated controls. Biological oxygen consumption in the uppermost sediment layer (0-1500 μm) was significantly inhibited by MNPs, as calculated from steady-state microprofiles, with CeO₂ NPs resulting in enhanced acute toxicity than TiO₂ NPs. High-throughput sequencing showed that MNP exposure increased the bacterial diversity and altered the bacterial community structure, regardless of NP type. The abundance of three dominant bacterial genera, Methylotenera, Cytophagceae_uncultured (classified as an aerobic bacterium), and Cyanobacteria_norank (a facultative bacterium), was markedly reduced by MNPs, which was primarily responsible for inhibiting microbial-mediated oxygen consumption in surficial sediments. In summary, short-term exposure to MNPs negatively affected the metabolic activity of benthic microbial communities, which could influence the biogeochemical functions along the sediment-water interface.

Keywords: Bacterial diversity; Metabolic activity; Metallic oxide nanoparticles; Oxygen consumption; Surficial sediments.