Toxicity of manufactured nanoparticles to Omani freshwater fish

Manufactured zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are increasingly utilized in industrial and commercial products, including paints and sunscreens, where they have a potential to enter the aquatic environment. Studies demonstrate that they can cause direct toxicity through release of ionic metals and by production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, only a limited range of species have been tested and little is known of their effects on reproduction and behavior. In this study the toxicity of Zn and Ti nanoparticles on larval Arabian killifish (Aphanias dispar) will be measured. The role of free ionic metals and production of reactive oxygen species in toxicity of the nanoparticles will assessed. Subsequently, the effects of sublethal exposures of Zn Ti NPs on reproduction and behavior of A. dispar will be studied. It is expected that this research will increase our understanding of the potential risks of manufactured nanoparticles to aquatic organisms in Oman.