Toxicokinetics of zinc-oxide nanoparticles and zinc ions in the earthworm Eisenia andrei

The toxicokinetics of zinc in the earthworm Eisenia andrei was investigated following exposure for 21 days to ionic zinc (ZnCl2) or zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in Lufa 2.2 soil, followed by 21 days elimination in clean soil. Two concentrations were tested for both ZnCl2 (250 and 500 μg Zn g−1) and ZnO-NPs (500 and 1000 μg Zn g−1), corresponding to EC25 and EC50 for effects on reproduction. Based on the measured internal Zn concentrations...