Spatial distribution and speciation of Au and Zn in terrestrial organisms exposed to Au and ZnO nanoparticles

ENVR 81

Jason M. Unrine, Jason.Unrine@gmail.com1, Paul M. Bertsch1, Simona E. Hunyadi2, Hongbo Ma3, Lee A. Newman4, and Phillip L. Williams3. (1) Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, 105 Plant Sciences Building, 1405 Veterans Drive, Lexington, KY 40546, (2) Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29802, (3) Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, (4) Department of Environmental Health Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208
We investigated the role of particle size for uptake of Au nanoparticles in tobacco (Nicotiana xanthi) and earthworms (Eisenia fetida) and the bioavailability, molecular and spatial distribution of Zn in organisms (E. fetida and Caenorhabditis elegans) exposed to nanosized ZnO as compared to free Zn ions. We employed synchrotron x-ray microspectroscopy, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and size exclusion chromatography coupled to ICP-MS to investigate the spatial distribution and speciation of Zn and Au in the exposed organisms. We found evidence for bioavailability of Zn and Au from the nanoparticles. The spatial and molecular distribution of Zn in exposed organisms was similar between ZnO and ZnCl2. We also present unequivocal evidence for the uptake of intact Au nanoparticles in N. xanthi based on Au Lα x-ray absorption near edge structure. Uptake of Au particles decreased with increasing particle size in both N. xanthi and E. fetida.
 

Environmental Behavior and Fate of Manufactured Nanomaterials
1:30 PM-5:30 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Rm. 235, Oral

Division of Environmental Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008