Some nanotoxicity effects of copper (60-80 nm) and copper oxide (40 nm) nanoparticles on <i>Artemia salina</i>

In this study, nanotoxicity tests were made by exposure of Artemia salina to copper (Cu 60-80 nm) and copper oxide (CuO 40 nm) nanoparticles (NPs) at different concentrations (0.2, 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 mg/L). The LC50 value of Cu (60-80 nm) NPs on the A . salina individuals at the beginning (0), 24(th) , 48(th) and 72(nd) hours and elimination period was 52.37 mg/L while the LC50 value of CuO (40 nm) NPs was 55.39 mg/L. The results of UV-Vis absorbance values showed that all statistical data revealed that maximum effect was observed between 24-30 hours and 25 ppm absorbance concentration was more effective. The multiple R, correlation coefficient (R2) and adjusted R2 values of Cu NP for the suitable Quadratic model were, respectively; 92.96 %, 86.42 % and 76.71 % while they are 98.31 %, 96.64 % and 94.25 % for CuO NP. Also, the data, was indicated effect size significantly changed based on the type and size of NP. Considering the microscope results, it was clearly noticed that A . salina organisms took the NPs in to their body. The accumulation in the gut of A . salina was observed and the images were taken with phase contrast microscope for both of NPs. The highest decrease for survival rates of A . salina individuals exposed to Cu NP was observed in the 10 ppm concentration (43.47 %) and in the 5 ppm concentration (46.20 %) for CuO NP. The results revealed that Cu and CuO NPS showed different toxic effects and that Cu NPs were more toxic than CuO.