Multibiomarker assessment of cerium dioxide nanoparticle (nCeO2) sublethal effects on two freshwater invertebrates, Dreissena polymorpha and Gammarus roeseli

• Gammarids and mussels both accumulated significant amount of waterborne nCeO2.
• nCeO2 decreased catalase, lysosomal system size and lipoperoxidation in mussels.
• nCeO2 could exert antioxidant protecting activity in mussels.
• In contrast with mussels, no effects of nCeO2 were observed on Gammarids.

Cerium nanoparticles (nCeO2) are widely used in everyday products, as fuel and paint additives. Meanwhile, very few studies on nCeO2 sublethal effects on aquatic organisms are available. We tried to fill this knowledge gap by investigating short-term effects of nCeO2 at environmentally realistic concentrations on two freshwater invertebrates; the amphipod Gammarus roeseli and the bivalve Dreissena polymorpha, using an integrated multibiomarker approach to detect early adverse effects of nCeO2 on organism biology. Differences in the behaviour of the organisms and of nanoparticles in the water column led to differential nCeO2 bioaccumulations, G. roeseli accumulating more cerium than D. polymorpha. Exposure to nCeO2 led to decreases in the size of the lysosomal system, catalase activity and lipoperoxidation in mussel digestive glands that could result from nCeO2 antioxidant properties, but also negatively impacted haemolymph ion concentrations. At the same time, no strong adverse effects of nCeO2 could be observed on G. roeseli. Further experiments will be necessary to confirm the absence of severe nCeO2 adverse effects in long-term environmentally realistic conditions.