Toxicity analayses of magnetite nanoparticle on duckweed (Lemna sp.) plant

Nanomaterials are nanotechnology products ranging in size from 1-100 nm. Magnetite nanoparticle (NP), which is one of these products, is widely used in biotechnology, medicine and environmental technologies due to its high magnetic properties. In order to minimize potential environmental pollution that may arise from common uses of magnetite nanoparticles, green synthesis method has been adopted in recent years instead of chemical synthesis. In this study, phytotoxicity of green synthesized nanomagnetite on Lemna minor was evaluated. The subacute phytotoxicity of magnetite nanoparticle synthesized using laurel leaf (Laurus nobilis) extract was tested using modified OECD protocol. Synthesized magnetite nanoparticles were characterized. As a result of the toxicity analysis of the magnetite nanoparticle, it was observed that the number of colonies increased by 38%, chlorophyll a 4% and chlorophyll b content by 32% compared to the control in 1 mg/L concentration. In the 1000 mg/L and 2000 mg/L concentration, the number of leaves decreased by 21% and 38%, the number of colonies decreased by 19% and 38%, while the leaf areas increased by 58% and 36%. In the 2000 mg/L concentration lipid peroxidation increased by %29 and hydrogen peroxide accumulation increased by %16 compared to the control group. In conclusion, this study showed that green synthesized magnetite nanoparticles can show toxic effects at high concentrations ( >1000 mg/L) in water ecosystem. Keywords: Lemna minor, magnetite, nanoparticle, phytotoxicity, water ecosystem, green synthesis