Table 1 Selected examples of ENM-induced oxidative stress or damage in microalgae

TiO₂

C. reinhardtii

SE

Generation of ROS by photocatalysis

[31]

TiO₂ and UV light

C. reinhardtii

Lake water and MOPS buffer

[32]

TiO₂

Chlorella sp.

OECD

Generation of intracellular ROS by HA

[33]

CdTe/CdS

C. reinhardtii

MES, MOPS, HEPES

Oxdative stress

[34]

Al₂O₃, SiO₂, ZnO and TiO₂

Chlorella sp.

SE

ROS may not be the dominant mechanism for algal growth inhibition

[35]

Ag

C. vulgaris, Dunaliella tertiolecta

Growth medium BG-11

ROS induced lipid peroxidation and a decrease of cell viability

[36]

Pt

C. reinhardtii

P. subcapitata

ISO 8692 medium and 4-fold diluted tris-acetate-phosphate medium

Substantial oxidative stress and negligible membrane damage; significant growth inhibition

[30]

Coated and uncoated CuO

C. reinhardtii

High salt medium

ROS formation may be the primary toxicity mechanism

[37]

CeO₂

P. subcapitata

Standard US EPA

The oxidative activity is mediated by OH and initiation of lipid peroxidation

[38]

Core–shell CuO

C. reinhardtii

High salt growth medium

ROS are responsible for chlorophyll deterioration, significant decrease of PSII primary photochemistry

[39]

CuO

C. reinhardtii

Various media, lake water

Oxidative stress and damage of membrane integrity

[40]

CuO and light

C. reinhardtii

Synthetic fresh water

Chlorophyll bleaching, oxidative stress and membrane damage; CuO and UV-light has synergistic effect

[41]

TiO₂, CdTe and QDs

C. reinhardtii

CM growth medium

Lipid peroxidation induced by oxidative stress, QDs and TiO₂ exhibit different mechanisms

[42]