Effect of single-wall carbon nanotubes on bioconcentration and toxicity of perfluorooctane sulfonate in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

- Co-exposure with SWCNT had an effect on the PFOS bioconcentration in zebrafish.
- The influence of PFOS on ROS, SOD, CAT and AChE were affected by co-exposure.
- The highest IBR were observed under co-exposure.

The wide application of nanoparticles will lead its release into the aquatic environment, which may alter the bioavailability and toxicity of other contaminants to aquatic organisms. This work aimed to study the effects of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), and their mixture on PFOS accumulation, antioxidant defenses and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in zebrafish. The fish was dissected after being exposed (24, 48, 72 and 96 h) separately to PFOS, SWCNT and PFOS + SWCNT co-exposure. The bioaccumulation of PFOS in fish tissues (liver, intestines, gills and brain) decreased with increasing dosage of SWCNT, however, the opposite trend was observed in fish skin, which indicated that the bioavailability of PFOS changed by adsorption on SWCNT. Meanwhile, co-exposure induced more reactive oxygen species (ROS) than PFOS alone and enhanced the effect of PFOS on the superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) and AChE activities. Furthermore, the integrated biomarker response (IBR) showed that co-exposure was the most stressful circumstance.

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