Genotoxicity of Copper, Silver and Green Synthetic Gold Nanoparticles in Fish (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) was exposed to nanoparticles of different concentrations, i.e., copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs), silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), and green synthetic gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs).The administered doses of the three concentration groups were 20mg L-1, 30 mg L-1, and 40mg L-1 each for a period of 14 and 28 days, respectively. The DNA damage in the erythrocytes of grass carp was detected through a comet assay technique. The values of total comet score (TCS) were noted for the exposed concentrations with a significant increasing trend (p < 0.05) and ordered as CuO-NPs > Ag-NPs > Au-NPs. The highest TCS value of the exposed erythrocytes was recorded for CuO-NPs at 40 mg L-1 after 14 days of exposition period. Comparatively, TCS values of erythrocytes exposed to green synthetic Au-NPs at all the concentrations and exposed time were less as compared to the Ag-NPs and CuO-NPs. The study confirmed the adverse effects of nanoparticles on the genetic material of fish cells.