Evaluation of DNA damage and lipoperoxidation content in red earthworm, Lumbricus rubellus exposed to zinc oxide nanoparticles

Manufactured nanoparticles have a wide range of application due to their advantageous properties when compared with their bulk forms. There is a growing concern regarding the safety of nanoparticles. This study aimed to evaluate the cell membrane lipoperoxidation (LPO) and DNA integrity in red earthworm Lumbricus rubellus when exposed to artificial soil systems containing different concentration of zinc oxide nanoparticles (n-ZnO). Exposure to n-ZnO led to an increase in LPO content and DNA damage (in terms of halos) in earthworm coelomocytes. We identified a positive strong correlation (r = +0.891, p<0.01) between LPO and DNA damage/ halos. In summary, we show that n-ZnO are toxic to soil organisms and may imposed a sever oxidative stress/ LPO leading to DNA damages.