Fullerene toxicity in the benthos with implications for freshwater ecosystem services

Production of engineered carbon-based nanomaterials (CNMs) is rising, with increased risk of release to the environment during production, use, and disposal. This trend highlights a need to understand potential impacts of CNMs on the natural environment. Fullerenes are an emerging class of CNMs that are insoluble in water, and form aggregates that settle quickly, suggesting higher relative vulnerability of aquatic benthic ecosystems. This study assessed eco-toxicity of fullerenes (C60, C70) and the functionalized derivative, phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), on functionally representative benthic organisms in traditional laboratory assays, and evaluated how the potential lethal and sub-lethal effects of fullerenes may indirectly impact benthic ecosystem function, including decomposition, primary productivity and nutrient cycling in lake microcosms with natural sediments. Standard toxicity tests indicated that population growth of Lumbriculus variegatus was reduced at 25 to 150 mg C60 kg^-1, but C70 and PCBM did not affect growth or weight of organisms in artificial sediments at 25 mg kg^-1. Survivorship and growth were lower in natural sediments with historic contamination, but C60 did not exacerbate this effect. C60 inhibited photosynthesis by the benthic diatom Nitzschia palea, and at high exposure chlorophyll a increased, suggesting a shading response. L. variegatus had strong effects on benthic ecosystem function, especially metabolism and nitrogen cycling, but C60 ≤ 30 mg kg^-1 sediment did not influence the role of L. variegatus in driving benthic processes. These observations suggest that at moderate to high concentrations, C60 may directly impact benthic organisms. However, under natural conditions with low to moderate concentrations, C60 has little effect and does not indirectly impact the ecosystem processes maintained by such organisms. These results are a step further towards a better understanding of potential impacts of fullerenes on aquatic ecosystems, and can aid in the development of regulatory policies.