EVALUATION OF NANOSILVER ECOTOXICITY USING REPRESENTATIVES OF DISTINCT TROPHIC LEVELS

Silver nanoparticles are used in a wide range of products, mainly because of their antibacterial effect. However, increasing production and utilisation of nanosilver pose risks. The aim of this study was to examine the acute toxicities of silver nitrate and four nanosilver suspensions of varying particle sizes (0.7-100 nm) to aquatic organisms and find out the biological effect of small and large sized nanoparticles. Nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Tests were conducted with representatives of different trophic levels such as producers (green freshwater algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata), consumers (water fleas Daphnia magna) and destruents (marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri). Experiments were carried out methodologically in accordance with the following standards: OECD 201 guideline, OECD 202 guideline and ISO 11348-2. Daphnia magna showed the highest sensitivity to the tested silver nanoparticles from all three organisms. On the other hand, the lowest toxicity of all tested samples was recorded for Vibrio fischeri.