The toxicity to plants of the sewage sludges containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Patryk Oleszczuk; Izabela Jośko; Baoshan Xing

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.11.028

The toxicity to plants of the sewage sludges containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes

J Hazard Mater. 2011 Feb 15;186(1):436-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.11.028. Epub 2010 Nov 12.

Authors

Patryk Oleszczuk¹, Izabela Jośko, Baoshan Xing

Affiliation

¹ Institute of Soil Science and Environmental Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland. patryk.oleszczuk@ar.lublin.pl

PMID: 21145166
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.11.028

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of sewage sludges containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with an outer diameter <10 nm (CNT10) or 40-60 nm (CNT60) to Lepidium sativum (cress), Sorghum saccharatum (sorgo), Solanum lycopersicon (tomato), Raphanus sativus (radish) and Cucumis sativus (cucumber). CNTs were also incubated in sewage sludge for 7 or 31 days to determine the effect of CNT aging on sewage sludge phytotoxicity. The influence of CNTs on 4 different sewage sludges was tested. The CNTs' influence on sludge toxicity varied with respect to the CNTs' outer diameter, type of sewage sludges and the plants tested. No significant influence of CNT concentration on phytotoxicity was noted. In the case of two sludges, a positive influence of CNTs on seed germination and root growth was observed. Depending on the CNTs' outer diameter, CNT aging decreased (CNT10) or increased (CNT60) sewage sludge phytotoxicity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Nanotubes, Carbon*
Plants / drug effects*
Sewage*
Species Specificity

Substances

Nanotubes, Carbon
Sewage