Manuel Teodoro et al. recently published an article evaluating the potential toxicological effects of engineered nanomaterial on the germination and early growth of two grass species. Two Poaceae species, Agrostis capillaris and Festuca rubra, were selected for their potential as phytostabilizing plants in multicontaminated soils. These species are resistant to contamination and maintain high concentrations of contaminants at the root level. Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) is a promising amendment that has an ability to stabilize metal(loid)s in soils. The use of nZVI had no negative effects on seed germination or seedling growth, but was associated with an increase in shoot growth and reduction of the elongation inhibition rate (root-dependent) of F. rubra seedlings. Our results indicate that nZVI has few toxic effects on the studied species.
Teodoro M., Clemente R., Ferrer-Bustins E., Martínez-Fernández D., Bernal M.P., Vítková M., Vítek P., Komárek M., 2020. Nanoscale zero-valent iron has minimum toxicological risk on the germination and early growth of two grass species with potential for phytostabilization. Nanomaterials 10(8), 1537. DOI: 10.3390/nano10081537.
Read the paper here.