Effects Of Plasma Treatment And Nano-Titanium Dioxide On Reproductive Toxicity Of Endosulfan

Endosulfan, as a broad-spectrum organochlorine pesticide, has high levels of residue in the soil and water surrounding agricultural area. In 2011, endosulfan has been enlisted as one of the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) by the Stockholm Convention. Endosulfan has adverse effects on nerve system, cardiovascular system,liver and kidney of various organisms. Moreover, endosulfan can cause damage to the reproductive system and affect the offspring or more generations, which may lead to a decline in biodiversity. How to degrade endosulfan effectively and reduce its toxicity is one of the important environmental problems need to be solved urgently. In this paper, two physico-chemical methods were used to treat endosulfan,utilizing plasma and nano-titanium dioxide, and the reproductive toxicity was evaluated through C. elegans. The results are summarized as follows:1. Plasma treatment can reduce endosulfan reproductive toxicity.(1) Germline apoptosis induced by commercial endosulfan (10 ?M) was reduced in different degrees when commercial endosulfan was treated by H2 plasma in different powerand time.(2) N2 plasma treatment can also reduce the apoptosis caused by endosulfan, but H2 plasma treatment is more effective.(3) Reduction of offsprings caused by endosulfan was also relieved after H2 plasma treatment.2. The reproductive toxicity of endosulfan is reduced when combined with nano-titanium dioxide.(1) when 10 ?M endosulfan combined with 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 5 ?g/mL TiO2(5 nm and 15 nm), germline apoptosis was reduced in dose-dependent manner.(2) 15 nm TiO2 is more effective than 5 nm TiO2 in reducing the toxicity.(3) 5 nm and 15 nm titanium dioxide have different effects on the two isomers of endosulfan. Nano-titanium dioxide can reduce the reproductive toxicity of both ?-and ?-endosulfan, but the large particle size is more effective. And the impact of nano-titanium dioxide on ?-endosulfan is more significant than ?-endosulfan.Conclusion: both plasma treatment and nano-titanium dioxide treatment can reduce the reproductive toxicity of endosulfan on C. elegans.