Evaluation of DNA damage and lipoperoxidation content in red earthworm, Lumbricus rubellus exposed to zinc oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Manufactured nanoparticles have a wide range of application due to their advantageous properties when<br />compared with their bulk forms. There is a growing concern regarding the safety of nanoparticles. This study<br />aimed to evaluate the cell membrane lipoperoxidation (LPO) and DNA integrity in red earthworm Lumbricus<br />rubellus when exposed to artificial soil systems containing different concentration of zinc oxide nanoparticles<br />(n-ZnO).<br />Exposure to n-ZnO led to an increase in LPO content and DNA damage (in terms of halos) in earthworm<br />coelomocytes. We identified a positive strong correlation (r = +0.891, p<0.01) between LPO and DNA<br />damage/halos. In summary, we show that n-ZnO is toxic to soil organisms and may imposed a sever oxidative stress/LPO leading to DNA damages.