Cytotoxicity shows increased DNA damage in macrophages exposed to silver nanoparticles and mercury, highlighting health risks from environmental contaminants.
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in nanotechnology products. However, the health risks associated with co-exposure to these emerging contaminants and environmental pollutants, such as non-essential metals, are poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate the cytotoxicity and toxicological interaction of AgNPs (0.36 and 3.6 μg mL⁻¹) + lead (Pb²⁺, 25 and 250 μM) and AgNPs + mercury (Hg²⁺, 15 and 150 μM) using the macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 as a model. Effects were observed after a few hours (4 h) on NO levels, phagocytic activity, and DNA damage. Cell viability (24 h-exposure) was affected mainly by the higher concentrations of the contaminants and their mixtures, preceded by increases in NO levels and DNA damage, but without effects on ROS levels. Co-exposure potentiated some effects (ROS and NO levels and DNA damage), indicating toxicological interaction. These important findings must be further investigated, since the interaction of Pb²⁺ and Hg²⁺ with AgNPs from nanoproducts may impair the function of macrophages and represent a health risk for humans.
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Glinski et al. (2025) studied this question.
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