Toxicity and accumulation of Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles in different life stages of Artemia salina

•The fate, behaviour and stability of CuO nanoparticles in the seawater was measured.•Effect of CuO NPs on different life stages of A. salina was investigated.•The changes in biochemical markers such as CAT, GSH and GST were evaluated.•The accumulation of Cu particles and its toxicity was evident in all the life stages of A. salina.

Metal nanoparticles production rate and its applications have raised concerns about their release and toxicity to the aquatic and terrestrial organisms. The primary size of Copper Oxide nanoparticles (CuO NP's) was found to be 114 ± 36 nm using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and a significant increase in the hydrodynamic diameter of CuO NP was seen within 1 h of interaction. The median lethal concentration (LC50) values obtained from the acute toxicity studies on different life stages of Artemia salina was found to be 61.4, 35, 12.2 and 175.2 mg/L for 1d, 2d, 7d old and adult, respectively. The toxicity associated changes in biochemical markers such as Catalase, Reduced glutathione and Glutathione-S-Transferase were evident. The accumulation of Cu nanoparticles into the gut of Artemia salina was the major reason for toxicity. This study demonstrate the toxicity of CuO NPs to Artemia salina, and the obtained results necessitate the detailed investigation on the possible eco-toxicological implication of these nanomaterials.