Purpose: Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) have been utilized in several industries including textile, consumer products, medical, automobiles etc. The discharge of industrial effluents in environment increased the probability of CuO NPs contamination in the ecosystem.
Methods: The present investigation used CuO NPs to determine the toxic effect on Lyngbya species, fresh water algae isolated from natural pond, bacterial species Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and a crustacean species Daphnia magna.
Results: The NPs average diameter and zeta potential was estimated to be 45 ± 3 nm and 29 ± 1.78 mV respectively. The results showed that 0.1 µg/mL CuO NPs showed the growth inhibition of 47 ± 2% on Lyngbya sp. after 5 days of incubation. The CuO NPs also showed toxic effect to bacterial systems such as P. aeruginosa and S. aureus and crustacean system D. magna. Further, there was an increased lipid peroxidation and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in algal cells observed up on NPs exposure. The exposure of NPs suppressed the antioxidant defense system. The amount of glutathione was reduced after the exposure of NPs.
Conclusion: The study suggested the role of ROS in toxicity of algal and bacterial systems. The present study pointed out the potent toxicity of CuO NPs to the organisms present in the aquatic environment.
Keywords: Bacteria; Copper oxide nanoparticles; Crustaceans; Green algae; Oxidative stress; Toxicity.
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