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Toxicity mechanisms of ZnO UV-filters used in sunscreens toward the model cyanobacteria Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942

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Abstract

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are commonly used in sunscreens for their UV-filtering properties. Their growing use can lead to their release into ecosystems, raising question about their toxicity. Effects of these engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) on cyanobacteria, which are important primary producers involved in many biogeochemical cycles, are unknown. In this study, we investigated by several complementary approaches the toxicological effects of two marketed ZnO-ENMs (coated and uncoated) on the model cyanobacteria Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. It was shown that despite the rapid adsorption of ENMs on cell surface, toxicity is mainly due to labile Zn released by ENMs. Zn dissipates cell membrane potential necessary for both photosynthesis and respiration, and induces oxidative stress leading to lipid peroxidation and DNA damages. It leads to global downregulation of photosystems, oxidative phosphorylation, and transcription/translation machineries. This also translates into significant decrease of intracellular ATP content and cell growth inhibition. However, there is no major loss of pigments and even rather an increase in exposed cells compared to controls. A proposed way to reduce the environmental impact of Zn would be the improvement of the coating stability to prevent solubility of ZnO-ENMs.

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Funding

The authors were financially supported by the ANR (Agence Nationale pour la Recherche) for funding the project (ANR P2N Mesonnet).

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  1. Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Environnements Continentaux (LIEC), UMR CNRS 7360, Université de Lorraine, Campus Bridoux, Rue du Général Delestraint, 57070, Metz, France

    Anne Vicente, Bénédicte Sohm, Philippe Rousselle, Pascale Bauda & Christophe Pagnout

  2. CNRS, LIEC, UMR7360, Campus Bridoux, 57070, Metz, France

    Justine Flayac, Pascale Bauda & Christophe Pagnout

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  1. Anne Vicente
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  2. Bénédicte Sohm
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  3. Justine Flayac
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Correspondence to Christophe Pagnout.

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Vicente, A., Sohm, B., Flayac, J. et al. Toxicity mechanisms of ZnO UV-filters used in sunscreens toward the model cyanobacteria Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 22450–22463 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-05057-6

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