Recognizing the significance of the life stage of fish for nano-eco-toxicological studies, the acute toxicity of colloidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was tested in three different life stages of rainbow trout. Fishes were exposed to colloidal AgNPs at nominal concentrations of 100, 32, 10, 3.2, 1, 0.32, 0.1, and 0.032 mg/L. The estimated 96 hr LC50 values were 0.25, 0.71, and 2.16 mg/L for the eleutheroembryos, larvae, and juveniles, respectively, revealing a higher sensitivity for the early life stages. In addition, a dose-dependent blood plasma reduction of chloride and potassium, also increase of cortisol and cholinesterase were observed in the juveniles to exposed AgNPs when compared to the controls. Thus, colloidal AgNPs should be classified as “very toxic” and “toxic” to the eleutheroembryo-larva and juvenile stages, respectively, meaning that the release of nanosilver into the envi ronment or its direct application as an antimicrobial agent in aquaculture should no longer be allowed.
