The potential hazards and ecotoxicity of CuO nanoparticles: an overview

Abstract

This review summarizes the underlying toxicity mechanisms of CuO nanoparticles (NPs) on the basis of various environmentally relevant test species and cells. The toxicity effects related to CuO NPs have been analyzed in bacteria, algae, drosophila, plants, aquatic animals, mammals and other models in vitro and in vivo experiments. In addition, the combined toxicity evaluation of CuO NPs is also discussed. This review reveals the following major factors driving the toxicity of CuO NPs: (i) the dissolution of NP metal ions, (ii) the size, shape and coating of NPs, and (iii) oxidative stress and nonoxidative stress mechanisms.

Keywords:

• Ecotoxicity
• in vitro toxicity
• in vivo toxicity
• mechanism
• CuO nanoparticles

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the language assistance of Dr. Zhang.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by scientific research project of Zhejiang education department [Y201942068].