The impact of cerium oxide nanoparticles on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and its implications for food safety. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Sustainable development of nanotechnology requires an understanding of the long term ecotoxicological impact of engineered nanomaterials on the environment. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO-NPs) have great potential to accumulate and adversely affect the environment owing to their widespread applications in commercial products. This study documented the chronic phenotypic response of tomato plants to CeO-NPs (0.1-10 mg L) and determined the effect of CeO-NPs on tomato yield. The results indicated that CeO-NPs at the concentrations applied in this study had either an inconsequential or a slightly positive effect on plant growth and tomato production. However, elevated cerium content was detected in plant tissues exposed to CeO-NPs, suggesting that CeO-NPs were taken up by tomato roots and translocated to shoots and edible tissues. In particular, substantially higher Ce concentrations were detected in the fruits exposed to 10 mg L CeO-NPs, compared with controls. This study sheds light on the long term impact of CeO-NPs on plant health and its implications for our food safety and security.

published proceedings

  • Metallomics

author list (cited authors)

  • Wang, Q., Ma, X., Zhang, W., Pei, H., & Chen, Y.

citation count

  • 176

complete list of authors

  • Wang, Qiang||Ma, Xingmao||Zhang, Wen||Pei, Haochun||Chen, Yongsheng

publication date

  • October 2012