Mixed effects and co-transfer of CeO2 NPs and arsenic in the pakchoi-snail food chain

Yaoyao Wang; Chuanxin Ma; Fei Dang; Lijuan Zhao; Dongmei Zhou; Xueyuan Gu

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132770

Mixed effects and co-transfer of CeO₂ NPs and arsenic in the pakchoi-snail food chain

J Hazard Mater. 2024 Jan 15:462:132770. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132770. Epub 2023 Oct 12.

Authors

Yaoyao Wang¹, Chuanxin Ma², Fei Dang³, Lijuan Zhao¹, Dongmei Zhou¹, Xueyuan Gu⁴

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
² Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China. Electronic address: xygu@nju.edu.cn.

PMID: 37852136
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132770

Abstract

Nanomaterial application in agriculture offers novel solutions for soil arsenic (As) pollution control, yet safety along the food chain is of concern. We comprehensively assessed CeO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) foliar application effects on As uptake by pakchoi and their presence in the pakchoi-snail food chain. CeO₂ NPs reduced As transfer from pakchoi roots to shoots by 37.9%, lowered As in snail foot by 39%, and halved human As exposure risk. The NPs alleviated pakchoi shoot As toxicity by regulating antioxidants, enhancing water use efficiency, and photosynthesis. CeO₂ +As treatment raised GSH/GSSG ratios by 38.92%- 167.54%, leading to an increased As^III/As^V ratio and inorganic As detoxification compared to As alone. Metabolomics revealed CeO₂'s rapid As response via phosphatidylinositol signaling. The enzyme-like activity of CeO₂ NPs may drive these effects. While CeO₂ foliar application accumulated Ce on pakchoi leaves, > 99% of Ce was excreted following snail consumption. Ce transfer from pakchoi leaves to snail foot was minimal (trophic transfer factor ∼0.00007) due to limited bioavailability. The target hazard quotient of Ce in pakchoi shoot (1.21 ± 0.18) and snails (0.0016 ± 0.0004) indicated low exposure risk, suggesting a 'risk filter' effect for CeO₂. Our results contribute to the safe and sustainable application of CeO₂ NPs in the future implication.

Keywords: Food chain; Nanoparticle; Pollution control; Risk assessment; Trophic transmission.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antioxidants
Arsenic* / toxicity
Cerium* / toxicity
Food Chain
Humans
Nanoparticles* / toxicity

Substances

Arsenic
Cerium
Antioxidants