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FORECASTING OF POTENTIAL HAZARD OF COBALT (II, III), ALUMINUM AND MAGNESIUM OXIDES FOR OBJECTS OF ENVIRONMENT AND BIORGANISMS WITH AN ASSESSMENT OF BIOACCUMULATION

М. С. Степанков, Nina Zaytseva, Marina Zemlyanova, А. М. Игнатова

Abstract

Based on the nanomaterials market research, the global production of cobalt (II, III) oxide (Co3O4), aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles is large-scale (> 100 tons/year), which leads to their contamination of environmental objects and accumulation in organisms. Research and scientific forecasting of the potential hazard and the features of the accumulation of Co3O4, Al2O3, and MgO nanoparticles have been carried out. According to the research results of the physical properties of the tested substances by scanning electron microscopy it has been established that the proportion of particles up to 100 nm in size occupies 74% of the total number of Co3O4 powder particles. As for Al2O3 and MgO powders, the value of this prevalence makes 42 % and 72%, respectively. Applying the Brunauer - Emmett -Teller Method, it was revealed that the specific surface area of Co3O4, Al2O3, and MgO nanoparticles is 46.8, 161, and 9.8 times higher than that of microparticles, respectively. Bioaccumulation of the studied nanomaterials was studied during a single inhalation exposure of ICR (CD-1) mice. Under exposure of Co3O4 nanoparticles, an increase in the cobalt concentration compared to the control values was observed in the lungs by 208.8 times, in the liver by 9.9 times, and in the brain by 4.6 times, after exposure to Co3O4 microparticles ? in the lungs in 1.27 times and in the liver in 1.85 times. Aluminium concentration growth under effect of Al2O3 nanoparticles in the lungs was in 21.58 times greater, in kidney ? in 1.5 times and in the brain in 1.35 times in comparison to the control. By the action of Al2O3 micro-particles, the aluminium concentration in kidneys grown 1.43 times and in brain 1.81 times. Under exposure to MgO nanoparticles, the magnesium concentration in the lungs was 1.98 times higher than in the control, and no changes were found when exposed to MgO microparticles. The concentrations of the studied substances in the organs of animals exposed by nanomaterials are higher than those exposed by micro ? sized analogues: the concentration of cobalt is higher in the lungs, liver and brain in 164.07, 5.36 and 4.18 times, respectively; aluminum and magnesium - in the lungs in 14.27 and in 1.74 times, respectively. According to the research available from the scientific literature, Co3O4, Al2O3, and MgO nanoparticles, accumulating in the body, can produce free radicals, causing oxidative stress, damage cell membranes, and DNA, and exhibit cytotoxicity, contributing to the development of inflammation and necrosis, which leads to pathomorphological changes in organ tissues. Taking into account the physical properties, bioaccumulation features, and toxic effects, the potential hazard coefficients of Co3O4, Al2O3, and MgO nanoparticles are set at 1.860, 2.202, and 1.872, respectively, which indicates a high degree of potential hazard of the studied nanomaterials.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2020v/6.2/s07.01

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