The toxicity of nano-materials has received increasing attention in recent years.Nevertheless,relatively few studies have focused on their oceanic distributions and toxicities.In this study,we assessed nano-ZnO toxicity in marine organisms using the yellowstriped goby(Mugilogobius chulae).The relative differences in nano-ZnO dissolution and dispersal in seawater and fresh water were also investigated.The effects of nano-ZnO on embryonic development,deformity,hatching,mortality,and histopathology were analyzed.In addition,the effects of the Zn^(2+) concentration on M.chulae hatching and mortality were compared.The results showed that nano-ZnO had higher solubility in seawater than in fresh water.Nano-ZnO significantly inhibited hatching.By the fifth day of exposure,the LC_(50) of nano-ZnO was 45.40 mg/L,and the mortality rate spiked.Hatching inhibition and lethality were dose-dependent over a range of1–25 mg/L nano-ZnO.Zn^(2+) inhibited hatching and increased lethality,but its effects were weaker than those of nano-ZnO at the same concentrations.Nano-ZnO also induced spinal bending,oedema,hypoplasia,and other deformities in M.chulae embryos and larvae.Histopathology revealed vacuolar degeneration,hepatocyte and enterocyte enlargement,and morphological abnormalities of the vertebrae.Therefore,nano-ZnO caused malformations in M.chulae by affecting embryonic growth and development.We conclude that nano-ZnO toxicity in seawater was significantly positively correlated with the associated Zn^(2+) concentration and sedimentary behaviour.The toxicity of nano-ZnO was cumulative and showed a critical point,beyond which embryonic and developmental toxicity in marine fish was observed.
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