Pila virens as sentinel of silica nanoparticles toxicity induced oxidative stress

Abstract The aquatic ecosystem is under threat due to the continuous inlet of various emerging contaminants affecting the inhabiting organisms. The Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are among the most abundantly produced nanoparticles globally posing a threat to the aquatic organisms because of their entry into aquatic ecosystem through various point and nonpoint sources. In this work, we report the toxicological impacts of SiNPs on fresh water snail Pila virens (P.virens) as a biomonitor. The acute toxicity of SiNPs on P. virens was performed in a 96 h static renewal tests. The median lethal concentration of SiNPs for 96 h on P. virens is 366.92 µg/L. The P. virens were exposed to 165 µg/L for 24 and 48 h respectively shown a significant increase in lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl, superoxide dismutase and reduction in total glutathione content in comparison to their controls. The fresh water edible snail P. virens serve as model organisms for other engineered nanomaterials toxicity.