Metal oxide nanomaterials in seawater: Linking physicochemical characteristics with biological response in sea urchin development

- Sea urchin embryos are not sensitive to CeO2 or TiO2 nanomaterials under conditions of our assay.
- Sea urchin embryos are highly sensitive to ZnO nanomaterials in our assays.
- Toxicity of ZnO nanomaterial was not significantly different from bulk ZnO or soluble Zn2+.
- ZnO nanomaterial was rapidly and completely solubilized in seawater at concentrations used in our bioassay.
- Iron-doped ZnO nanomaterials were less soluble in seawater but there was not a reduction in toxicity compared to pure ZnO nanomaterial.