Soil copper uptake by land snails: A semi-field experiment with juvenile Cantareus aspersus snails.

There is currently limited scientific evidence linking soil copper and land snails, although these invertebrates are important players in terrestrial ecosystems. In the present study, Cantareus aspersus juveniles, were exposed in two successive phases of 30 days each, to soil spiked with increasing concentrations of copper sulfate. Copper concentrated preferentially and in a dose-dependent manner in the hepatopancreas.

Effect of surfactant in mitigating cadmium oxide nanoparticle toxicity: Implications for mitigating cadmium toxicity in environment.

Cadmium (Cd), classified as human carcinogen, is an extremely toxic heavy metal pollutant, and there is an increasing environmental concern for cadmium exposure through anthropogenic sources including cigarette smoke. Though Cd based nanoparticles such as cadmium oxide (CdO) are being widely used in a variety of clinical and industrial applications, the toxicity of CdO nanoparticles has not been well characterized. Herein we report the toxicity of CdO nanoparticles employing zebrafish as a model.

Synthesis of CoO nanoparticles with block and sphere morphology, and investigation into the influence of morphology on biological toxicity.

In the present study, cobalt oxide (CoO) magnetic nanoparticles with block and sphere morphologies were synthesized using various surfactants, and the toxicity of the particles was analyzed by monitoring biomarkers of nanoparticle toxicity in zebrafish. The use of tartarate as a surfactant produced highly crystalline blocks of CoO nanoparticles with pores on the sides, whereas citrate lead to the formation of nanoparticles with a spherical morphology. CoO structure, crystallinity, size and morphology were studied using X-ray diffractogram and field emission scanning electron microscopy.