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Gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) are used in many applications, including the manufacture of products like cosmetics, paints, and electrochemical immunosensors, and in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of tumors. However, there are no legal or recommended guidelines for protecting aquatic ecosystems from Au-NPs. In this study, we conducted a battery of bioassays and present toxicity values for two bacteria, one alga, one euglena, three cladoceran, and two fish species that were exposed to Au-NPs. Guideline values for protecting aquatic ecosystems from Au-NPs were derived using methods that are generally used to derive water-quality guidelines and are used in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the European Community (EC), and the USA. Au-NPs had adverse effects on all test species, including growth inhibition of both bacteria, the alga, and the euglena; mortality and immobilization in the three cladocerans; and developmental malformations in the embryos and larvae of the two fish. Guideline values of 0.15 and 0.04 × 10(10) particles/mL were derived for Au-NPs using a species sensitivity distribution (SSD) and assessment factor. The guideline value derived for Au-NPs using an assessment factor was more stringent than that derived using SSD. This is the first study to derive guideline values for nanoparticles in water environments.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have been used as additives in a variety of consumer products. While these particles may enter the environment, only a limited number of studies have investigated the effects of ZnO NPs on soil exoenzymes. Here, we investigate the long-term effects of ZnO NPs at concentrations of 50 and 500 mg/kg on the activities of six soil exoenzymes in planted soils: Dehydrogenase, fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolase, urease, acid phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and β-glucosidase. Significant effects were observed at one or more time points for all enzymes except for FDA hydrolase. These effects included both decreases and increases in enzyme activity. Our results suggest that ZnO NP treatments of 50 and 500 mg/kg can adversely affect soil enzymes, particularly acid phosphatase and urease, and thus, these data may have implications for phosphorous and nitrogen cycles in the soil.