Acronym NANOREPROTOX
Category
Aquaculture
Title Uncovering the ecological impacts of nanoparticle toxicity on the reproduction of marine organisms Programme Nat. Programme (supported by ESIF)
Instrument (FP6)
Contact Type (FP7)
Strand (Interreg)
NA
Theme (FP7)
Activity Area (FP6)
Regional Area (Interreg)
Action (COST)
NA
Specific Programme (FP7)
NA
Funding source National-European Coordinator Cláudia Leopoldina de Brito and Veiga Rodrigues Mieiro Coordinator email NA
Coordinator institution
CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (Portugal)
Institutions involved
NOVA.ID.FCT - Association for Innovation and Development of FCT (Portugal) ,
CCMAR - Center of Marine Sciences (Portugal) ,
Start year 2018 End year 2022 Funding (€) € 233,719 Website https://www.cesam-la.pt/projetos/nanoreprotox-desvendando-os-impactos-ecologicos-da-toxicidade-de-nanoparticulas-na-reproducao-de-organismos-marinhos/ Summary It is estimated that by 2020 the production of nanoparticles (NP) will increase to 58,000 tonnes/year, which will be released into the water. Despite its wide use, there are no guidelines regarding its release into the aquatic environment, especially in marine systems, and there are no known studies on the toxicity of NP in the reproduction of marine species. The recognition of the importance of the applicability of NPs in aquaculture, as vaccines and disease diagnostic tools, further reinforces the need to study the toxicity of NPs. Reproduction, and especially reproductive tissues and gametes, have been identified as sensitive to NP toxicity. Although the results are controversial in relation to male gametes, most mammalian studies have revealed that PN crosses biological barriers to reproductive tissues, inducing damage to both gametes and ultimately causing physiological effects and infertility. Thus, this project will evaluate the reproductive potential of the most used NPs (TiO2 and Ag) in gametes and gonads of 2 typical marine species (mussel and sea bream), estimating the harmful potential of NP for marine organisms and creating strategies to mitigate the toxic effects mediated by NP, promoting the healthy use of marine resources. NanoReproTox will assess 2 degrees of biological complexity: first, through ex-vivo exposures of gametes, simulating the effects of PN at fertilization, and then increasing the degree of complexity through in-vivo studies, estimating the chronic effects of PN exposure during gametogenesis and gonad maturation. At both stages toxicity will be assessed by sub-lethal effects, from molecular effects (DNA integrity, oxidative stress, bioenergetics and biochemical composition) to the sub-individual/individual level (sperm quality and histopathologies). NanoReproTox will adopt an interdisciplinary tactic, bringing together a scientific team expert in ichthyophysiology, bioenergetics, toxicology, biochemistry and environmental sciences. The CESAM team is an expert in aquatic toxicology, in particular in the effects of contaminants on aquatic species. The CCMAR team is an expert in fish reproductive biotechnology and gamete quality and the MARE team in toxicopathology and molecular and histopathological biomarkers. NanoReproTox is strongly aligned with the objectives of RIS3 (ENEI and EREI) related to the assessment, monitoring and protection of the marine ecosystem, preserving biodiversity and the sustainability of species. Identifying nanoreprotoxicity in endogenous resources will allow the definition of risks and the risk-benefit assessment of the application of nanotechnology in aquaculture. This new knowledge will serve as a basis for application to field scenarios, allowing the creation of maximum levels for the creation of marine water quality criteria (criteria for marine life and biological).
Keywords
Biology;
Pollution;
Shellfish;
Seabream;
Genetic;
Environmental impact;
Fish reproduction;
Fish;
Bivalve;
Mussel;
Mollusc;
Wild animals;
Marine Region
38
Portuguese Waters (27.IXa,27.IXb)
1
Marine Region Map
