Toxicity of silver nanocolloids to Raphidocelis subcapitata

Abstract

We conducted algal toxicity test of non-surface-coated silver nanocolloids (SNCs) using Raphidocelis subcapitata. The materials tested and growth medium (COMBO medium) used in the present study were the same as those in our previous bioassays for cladocerans. The 10% and 50% effective concentrations (72-h EC₁₀ and EC₅₀) with 95% confidence intervals for algal growth rate were 16.1 (12.8–19.3) µg/L and 43.4 (39.2–47.6) µg/L, respectively. We found that those endpoint values did not differ largely from the chronic endpoint values for Daphnia magna (e.g., EC₁₀ for net reproductive rate was 20.9 µg/L), indicating those organisms have similar vulnerability to SNCs.