Multiwalled carbon nanotubes and c60 fullerenes differentially impact the accumulation of weathered pesticides in four agricultural plants

Environ Sci Technol. 2013;47(21):12539-47. doi: 10.1021/es4034809. Epub 2013 Oct 10.

Abstract

The effect of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) or C60 fullerenes on the uptake of weathered chlordane or DDx (DDT + metabolites) by Cucurbita pepo (zucchini), Zea mays (corn), Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), and Glycine max (soybean) was investigated. The plants were grown in 50 g of soil with weathered chlordane (2150 ng/g) and DDx (118 ng/g) that was amended with 0, 500, 1000, or 5000 mg/kg MWCNT or C60. After 28 d, the root and shoot content of chlordane components and DDx was determined by GC-MS. Zucchini and tomato growth were unaffected by carbon nanomaterial coexposure, although C60 at 500 mg/kg reduced corn and soybean biomass by 36.5-45.0%. Total chlordane content ranged from 1490 (tomato) to 4780 (zucchini) ng; DDx amounts ranged from 77.8 (corn) to 395 ng (zucchini). MWCNT coexposure decreased chlordane and DDx accumulation 21-80% across all crops, depending on species and nanotube concentration. Conversely, C60 had species- and contaminant-specific effects on pesticide uptake, ranging from complete suppression of DDx uptake (corn/tomato) to 34.9% increases in chlordane accumulation (tomato/soybean). The data show that pesticide accumulation varies greatly with crop species and carbon nanomaterial type/concentration. These findings have implications for food safety and for the use of engineered nanomaterials in agriculture.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Chlordan / chemistry
  • Chlordan / metabolism
  • Crops, Agricultural / chemistry
  • Crops, Agricultural / metabolism*
  • Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / chemistry
  • Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / metabolism
  • Fullerenes / chemistry*
  • Insecticides / analysis
  • Insecticides / metabolism*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Pesticide Residues
  • Soil Pollutants / chemistry*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Fullerenes
  • Insecticides
  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Pesticide Residues
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Chlordan
  • Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene
  • fullerene C60