Environmental safety of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) is one of the important aspects in nanotechnology and aquatic ecosystems are one of the most important destinations for released nanomaterials. This study was conducted to investigate the trophic transfer possibility of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) from a non-selective filter feeder saltwater aquatic organism (brine shrimp, Artemia salina) to fish larvae (convict cichlid, Amatitlania nigrofasciata). Artemia nauplii at 2nd larval stage (instar II) were exposed to concentrations of 0 (control), 1, 10 and 100 mg/L ZnO-NPs suspension for 4 hours. The cichlid larvae (n=70/treatment) at the early weaning were then fed with ZnO-NPs enriched nauplii for 21 days to determine trophic transfer of nanoparticles. The growth and mortality rates of fish were assessed and accumulated zinc was measured using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer at the end of the period. Concentration dependent bioaccumulation of zinc and reduced survival was observed in exposed fish to ZnONPs through the food chain. Although the total length of the fish was not affected by the treatments, but the weight gain of fish decreased in a non-concentration dependent manner. This study confirms the trophic transfer potential/ behavior of zinc oxide nanoparticles from brine shrimp to cichlid fish and its effects on survival and growth of fish larvae.
