Toxicity of silver nanoparticles on fertilization success and early development of the marine polychaete Hydroides elegans (Haswell, 1883)

Abstract Background The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used in the production of numerous commercial and medical products and are found to have adverse effects on animals. The sessile marine polychaete worm, Hydroides elegans, was examined for the influence of AgNPs on external fertilization and early developmental stages. Results Toxicity of AgNPs at various concentrations were examined on germ cells, fertilization rate, and early developmental stages. The EC50 was evaluated as 3 nM AgNPs; however, the survivability varied at each developmental stage, reducing with increasing stages of development, indicating a bioaccumulation effect of AgNPs. The lag in time of development suggested an impediment in dividing cells and the nuclear dysfunction assessed by DNA damage using comet assay. Conclusion The observations documented have provided an insight on hazardous effect of AgNPs on susceptible cells and reproductive efficiency on other organisms including human.