Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Artemia salina

The present study revealed the toxic effect of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in Artemia salina and evaluated the mortality rate, morphological variations, Swimming speed velocity and chemical analysis in Artemia salina cysts. The ZnO NPs was synthesised by thermochemical method and it was characterized by using UV spectrum, XRD and FT-IR. Nanoparticles were spherical in nature and with size range of 30-40 nm. Artemia cysts were purchased from store, processed, and hatched in salt water. Artemia salina was treated using ZnO nanoparticles of various concentrations (mg/ml) and LC50 value (0.4 mg/ml) and mortality rate (24 and 48 hours) was evaluated. Aggregation of ZnO NPs in the gut region of salina was studied using phase contrast microscope. Behavioural responses (swimming speed velocity) in A. salina exposed to ZnO NPs for 48 hr were evaluated. This study showed that as the concentration of ZnO NPs increased, the mortality rate and aggregation of NPs in gut region were increased in salina, whereas the swimming speed velocity in A. salina decreased. Thus this study revealed that the low concentrations of ZnO NPs have no toxic effect on Artemia salina.