The Survival of the Infusoria Paramecium caudatum in the Presence of Aluminum Oxide Nanoparticles

Acute toxicity of nanoparticles of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) with a size of 13–16 nm was investigated by the biotesting method using Paramecium caudatum ciliates in the concentration range of 10–100 μg/mL. Aluminum oxide has an acute toxic effect on paramecium at concentrations of 20–100 μg/mL. The mean lethal dose (LD50) is equal to the concentration of nanoparticles at which the mortality of ciliates in relation to the control reached 50%. The LD50 for Al2O3 nanoparticles is 23 μg/mL at a 24-h exposure. According to published data, the toxic effect of Al2O3 nanoparticles is specific and depends on the size and surface charge of the particles and on the interfacial interaction of nanoparticles with the cell surface, as well as on the concentration and exposure time.