ABSTRACT
Nanotechnology allows for a greater quality of life, but may also cause environmental and organismic harm. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are one of the most commonly used metal oxide nanoparticles for commercial and industrial products. Due to its extensive use in various fields, there has already been much concern raised about the environmental health risks of ZnO NPs. This study aimed to reveal the specific characteristics of ZnO NPs in Clarias gariepinus embryonic/larval developmental damage. The embryos were exposed to varying concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 mg/l) for 48 hours. Several dose-dependent morphological alterations which encompasses pericardial edema, yolk sac edema, tail edema (caudal fin erosion), curved spine, deformed otolith, undetached somites, absence of tail detachment, delayed coagulation, significantly reduced eye size, blood congestion, tail swelling, shortened tail, lordosis, kyphosis, fractured notochord, muscular deformities, mouth deformities, and structural jaw abnormalities, along with coagulation of fertilized embryos, fractured notochord, irregularly shaped head, halted gastrulation, thickened yolk sac, and reduced somite formation were observed in the ZnO NPs groups. These alterations were observed to be more pronounced with increase in exposure duration. The findings of this study suggest that heightened concentrations of nanoparticles could lead to substantial developmental deformities in fish embryo, potentially jeopardizing the health and stability of aquatic ecosystems.
