Chronic toxicity of nanodiamonds can disturb development and reproduction of Acheta domesticus L

Abstract The use of nanodiamonds in numerous materials designed for industry and medicine is growing rapidly. Consequently health and environmental risks associated with the exposure of humans and other biota to nanodiamonds-based materials are of the utmost importance. Scarcity of toxicological data for these particles led us to examine the potentially deleterious effects of nanodiamonds in model insect species, Acheta domesticus (Orthoptera) chronically exposed to ND in its diet. Organism-level end-point indices (lifespan, body weight, consumption, caloric value of faeces, reproduction) revealed adverse changes in the treated crickets in comparison with the control. Preliminary studies of oxidative stress level in the offspring of ND-treated crickets suggest toxicity of these particles limited to the exposed individuals. EPR analysis showing increase of radical signal in the faeces of ND-fed crickets led us to propose novel mechanism of nanodiamonds toxicity that is discussed in the light of literature data. Capsule Development and reproduction of Acheta domesticus can be disturbed by the chronic exposure to nanodiamonds