Toxicity assessment of zebrafish following exposure to CdTe QDs
Published: 02-14-2016 In Publication
CdTe quantum dots (QDs) are nanocrystals of unique composition and properties that have found many new commercial applications; therefore,their potential toxicity to aquatic organisms has become a hot research topic. The lab study was performed to determine the developmental and behavioral toxicities to zebrafish under continuous exposure to low concentrations of CdTe QDs (1–400 nM) coated with thioglycolic acid (TGA). The results show: (1) the 120 h LC50 of 185.9 nM, (2) the lower hatch rate and body length, more malformations, and less heart beat and swimming speed of the exposed zebrafish,(3) the brief burst and a higher basal swimming rate of the exposed zebrafish larvae during a rapidtransition from light-to-dark, and (4) the vascular hyperplasia, vascular bifurcation,vascular crossing and turbulence of the exposed FLI-1 transgenic zebrafish larvae.