Abegoda-Liyanage_2023_Bull.Environ.Contam.Toxicol_110_101

This study compared effects of low concentrations (0.05 and 0.1 mg/L) of nano-TiO(2) and bulk-TiO(2) on brain, gill and liver acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and erythrocytic DNA of Nile tilapia over 7 and 14 days exposure. Both TiO(2) forms did not affect brain AChE activities. Bulk-TiO(2) induced elevation of gill AChE activities only after 7 days while nano-TiO(2) had no effect. Liver AChE activities were increased by 0.1 mg/L bulk- and nano-TiO(2) to similar extents. At 7 days, erythrocytic DNA damage was induced only by 0.1 mg/L nano- and bulk-TiO(2) to similar extents, but damage was not repaired to control levels at 7 days recovery period. At 14 days continuous exposure, DNA damage was induced by 0.05, 0.1 mg/L nano-TiO(2) and 0.1 mg/L of bulk-TiO(2) to similar extents. Results show that both forms of TiO(2) can pose genotoxic hazards to fish populations under sub-chronic exposure. However, their neurotoxic potential was not evident.