Toxicity of graphene oxide to naked oats ( Avena sativa L.) in hydroponic and soil cultures

L.) in hydroponic and soil cultures. Serious toxicity of GO was only observed in hydroponic culture. GO induced the inhibition of biomass gain, seedling length and photosynthesis of naked oats. The root structure was disturbed by GO and oxidative stress was aroused in the root. In contrast, the soil (vermiculite) interacted strongly with GO and restricted the transportation of GO in soil. This reduced the contact between GO and the roots and largely alleviated its toxicity. Our results collectively suggested that environmental biosafety evaluation should consider the impact of environmental behaviors of nanomaterials to better reflect the real bioeffect of nanomaterials.