Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 42-47).

Thesis (M. En.)--Miami University, Institute of Environmental Sciences, 2005. / Title from first page of PDF document. Document formatted into pages; contains [1], iii, 39 p. : ill. Includes bibliographical references (p. 19).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2006. / Description based on contents viewed Jan. 26, 2007; title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references (p. 98-105).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on August 13, 2007) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

The spread of non-native species is a global threat and the rate at which biological invasions occur is likely to increase in the future. This thesis examines the implications of the invasive signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana), for instream communities and abiotic processes within lowland rivers in England. The potential effects on lotic macroinvertebrate communities and fine sediment dynamics are investigated at a range of spatial and temporal scales, from the examination of national long-term datasets through to short-term detailed mesocosm experiments. Interrogation of macroinvertebrate community data from three English regions was undertaken to understand the temporal and spatial extent of signal crayfish effects. Invasive crayfish had significant long-term and persistent effects on resident macroinvertebrate communities regardless of the lithology or other environmental characteristics of the region. The resultant modifications to community composition had repercussions for several widely employed freshwater biomonitoring tools which employ faunal abundance in their derivation. A reach-scale field study was undertaken at two sites, one invaded by crayfish and one which did not support populations of crayfish (control), to assess the potential contribution of signal crayfish for fine sediment dynamics (ingress, fluxes and ultimately the overall implications for sediment budgets). Reach-scale field experiments examining the effect of crayfish invasion on resident macroinvertebrate communities over a 126-day period indicated that once crayfish populations are well-established their effects are persistent. However, separating the effects of crayfish from wider macroinvertebrate community dynamics and life-history characteristics of the invader and resident taxa means that attributing the effects is far from clear. The thesis presents the results of a series of novel mesocosm experiments which examined the dynamic and two-way interactions of predator-prey relationships and potential zoogeomorphological effects of signal crayfish and the freshwater shrimp, Gammarus pulex. Signal crayfish had a significant effect on the mass of fine sediment infiltrating into the gravel matrix associated with foraging and predatory activity; however this was strongly controlled by prey availability. Finally, through the development of conceptual models, the thesis illustrates the need for greater integration of ecological and geomorphological theories, at relevant environmental scales (temporal and spatial) to achieve truly interdisciplinary research.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-03T11:52:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-07-29Bitstream added on 2015-03-03T12:06:27Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000805044.pdf: 464236 bytes, checksum: ed88b338bf368e99fe21f7ca250f88b0 (MD5) / O uso do inseticida fipronil em grandes quantidades pode gerar resíduos no ambiente, principalmente nos ambientes hídricos. Assim, objetivou-se: 1) classificar o fipronil pela toxicidade aguda (CL(I)50 ou CE(I)50) para sete espécies aquáticas; 2) selecionar as espécies não alvos mais adequadas para monitorar a contaminação das águas com fipronil com base em três classificações de risco de intoxicação ambiental; e 3) avaliar as alterações nas variáveis da qualidade de água nos ensaios de toxicidade aguda para peixes e caramujo. Para tanto, foram realizados ensaios de toxidade aguda para cada espécie de acordo com as normas da ABNT (2011) e os valores de CL50 foram classificados de acordo com Zucker (1985). As espécies avaliadas foram os peixes mato-grosso (Hyphessobycon eques), pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) e tilápia (Oreochromis niloticus); o caramujo (Pomacea canaliculata), a Daphnia magna, e as macrofitas aquáticas Lemna minor e Azolla caroliniana. O risco ambiental do fipronil foi classificado de acordo com três tipos de classificação, calculado pela divisão entre o valor da concentração ambiental estimada (mgL-1) pela CL(I)50 ou CE(I)50 (mg L-1) para cada espécie. A CL50;48h do fipronil foi de: 0,28 mg L-1 para o mato-grosso; 0,45 mg L-1 para o pacu; 0,08 mg L-1 para a tilápia; a CE50;48h foi de 2629,08 mg L-1 para o caramujo; 0,025 mg L-1 para a D. magna; a CL50;7d foi de 3283,29 mg L-1 para a L. minor, e 7855,41 mg L-1 para a A. caroliniana. O fipronil classifica-se como extremamente tóxico para a tilápia e a D. magna; altamente tóxico para o mato-grosso e pacu; e praticamente não tóxico para o caramujo e para as macrófitas. A D. magna e os peixes são as espécies mais adequadas para monitorar a contaminação de ambientes aquáticos por fipronil. O fipronil pode causar diferentes níveis de redução do oxigênio dissolvido após 48 horas da diluição / The use of fipronil pesticide in large quantities can contaminate water resources near areas where it has been used. So, the aim was: 1) classify the fipronil by acute toxicity according to lethal concentration values (LC50 or EC50) for seven aquatic species; 2) select the best non targets species to follow the aquatic contamination by fipronil based in three kinds of environmental risk classification; 3) evaluate changes in water quality caused by fipronil in acute toxicity tests for fishes and snail. For this, acute toxicity tests were performed for each specie according to ABNT (2011) rules, and the LC50 values were classified according to Zucker (1985). Tested species were: mato-grosso (Hyphessobycon eques), pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus); the snail (Pomacea canaliculata), Daphnia magna, the macrophytes Lemna minor e Azolla caroliniana. Environmental risk of fipronil was classified according to three methodologies, calculated by division between estimated environmental concentration of fipronil (mg L-1) and LC50 or EC50 for each specie. LC50 of fipronil was: 0,28 mg L-1 for mato-grosso; 0,45 mg L-1 for pacu; 0,08 mg L-1 for tilápia; EC50;48h was 2629,08 mg L-1 for the snail; 0,025 mg L-1 for D. magna; LC50;7d was 3283,29 mg L-1 for L. minor and 7855,41 mg L-1 for A. caroliniana. Fipronil is classified as extremely toxic to tilapia and D. magna; highly toxic to mato-grosso and pacu; and non-toxic to the snail and macrophytes. D. magna and fishes are the most suitable species for monitoring the contamination of aquatic environments by fipronil. Fipronil may cause different levels of reduction in oxygen dissolved after 48 hours

A nanotecnologia é uma das áreas de maior desenvolvimento da atualidade. Nanopartículas de dióxido de titânio (TiO2-NP) têm sido amplamente utilizadas em diversos produtos e processos nos últimos anos. Como consequência, estas nanopartículas são liberadas em efluentes e águas residuais, atingindo os compartimentos aquáticos. Com isso, a avaliação do impacto biológico das TiO2-NP se torna de grande importância na área de ecotoxicidade. O mexilhão dourado (Limnoperna fortunei) é um molusco bivalve de água doce muito utilizado no biomonitoramento ambiental, considerado organismo alvo para toxicidade de TiO2-NP no ambiente aquático. Neste trabalho, os exemplares do L. fortunei foram expostos às TiO2-NP (1, 5, 10 e 50 μg mL-1), as quais foram previamente caracterizadas físicoquimicamente. A avaliação toxicológica se deu através do ensaio cometa, teste de micronúcleos, avaliação dos danos oxidativo a lipídios e proteínas e avaliação das defesas antioxidantes através da atividade das enzimas superóxido dismutase (Sod) e catalase (Cat) e do conteúdo sulfidril de proteínas. A interação de TiO2-NP com os hemócitos do mexilhão dourado foi avaliada utilizando microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (MET). Os resultados mostraram que as TiO2-NP apresentaram tamanho médio de cerca de 20 nm e são compostas pelas estruturas cristalinas anatase e rutilo, com área superficial de 46,26 m2 g-1. As soluções de 1, 5, 10 e 50 μg mL-1 TiO2-NP utilizadas apresentaram baixa estabilidade com tendência à formação de agregados. A genotoxicidade das TiO2-NP foi evidenciada pelos danos ao DNA do L. fortunei verificados após 2 h de exposição e aumentada após 4 h para todas as concentrações testadas. TiO2-NP não foram capazes de induzir a formação de micronúcleos nos hemócitos do mexilhão dourado. Os mexilhões apresentaram aumento nos níveis de peroxidação lipídica e do conteúdo de proteínas carboniladas após 2 h de exposição às concentrações de TiO2-NP utilizadas. Após 4 h de exposição, esses valores não apresentaram diferença do controle. A atividade da enzima Sod foi diminuída após 2 h de exposição para todas as concentrações testadas de TiO2-NP. A enzima Cat apresentou diminuição na atividade após 2 h de exposição dos mexilhões às concentrações de 10 e 50 μg mL-1 TiO2-NP. As defesas antioxidantes não enzimáticas foram diminuídas após 2 h de exposição dos mexilhões a todas as concentrações de TiO2-NP utilizadas. Após 4 h de exposição, tanto as defesas antioxidantes enzimáticas como as não enzimáticas foram restauradas. Conforme análise das imagens de MET, TiO2-NP foram internalizadas nos hemócitos do mexilhão dourado, ocasionando alterações na estrutura da membrana plasmática. As TiO2-NP causaram efeitos toxicológicos no mexilhão dourado, capazes de causar genotoxicidade e alterações no metabolismo redox nas células dos animais. Estes resultados reforçam os cuidados que devem ser aplicados na liberação das TiO2-NP no ambiente, devido a problemas causados pela exposição às nanopartículas. Além disso, os dados apresentados demonstram o potencial do L. fortunei como organismo biomonitor para a exposição às nanopartículas. / Submitted by Ana Guimarães Pereira (agpereir@ucs.br) on 2016-07-01T17:50:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Francine Girardello.pdf: 6715161 bytes, checksum: ebe64da4ad8f569ee542da47e13f60e3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-01T17:50:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Francine Girardello.pdf: 6715161 bytes, checksum: ebe64da4ad8f569ee542da47e13f60e3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-01 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, FAPERGS. / Nanotechnology is one of the fastest-growing areas of the actuality. Nanoparticles of titanium dioxide (TiO2-NP) have been widely used in many products and processes in recent years. As consequence, these nanoparticles are release into effluent and wastewater, reaching water compartments. Thus, the evaluation of the biological impact of TiO2-NP becomes of great importance for ecotoxicity. The golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) is a freshwater bivalve mollusk often used in biomonitoring, considered target organism for TiO2-NP toxicity in the aquatic environment. In this work, L. fortunei were exposed to TiO2-NP (1, 5, 10 and 50 μg mL-1), which were previously physic-chemically characterized. The toxicological evaluation was performed using the comet assay, micronucleus test, evaluation of oxidative damage to lipids and proteins, assessment of antioxidant defences through the activity of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (Sod) and catalase (Cat) and the protein sulfhydryl content. The TiO2-NP interaction with the haemocytes of golden mussel was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that TiO2-NP presented average size about 20nm, composed of the anatase and rutile crystalline structures, with surface area of 46.26 m2 g-1. The TiO2-NP solutions of 1, 5, 10 and 50 μg mL-1 used showed low stability with a tendency to form aggregates. The genotoxicity of TiO2-NP was evidenced by DNA damage of L. fortunei after 2 h of exposure and increased after 4 h for all concentrations tested. TiO2-NP was not able to induce micronucleus in haemocytes of golden mussels. The mussels showed an increase in lipid peroxidation levels and carbonylated proteins content after 2 h of exposure to the concentrations of TiO2-NP used. After 4 h of exposure, these values showed no difference compared to control. Sod enzyme activity was decreased after 2 h of exposure for all tested concentrations of TiO2-NP. Cat enzyme activity decreased after 2 h of exposure of the mussels to concentrations of 10 and 50 μg mL-1 TiO2-NP. The non-enzymatic antioxidant defences decreased after 2 h of mussels exposure of all TiO2-NP concentrations used. The mussels showed increased levels of lipid peroxidation and carbonyl proteins after 2 h of exposure to TiO2-NP, showing no similar effects after 4 h of exposure. The enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants defences were depleted after 2 h of TiO2-NP exposure to the mussels. After 4 h of exposure, both enzymatic antioxidant and non-enzymatic defences were restored. As shown by the TEM image analysis, TiO2-NP was internalized by haemocytes of the golden mussel, causing changes in plasmatic membrane structure. The TiO2-NP cause toxicological effects on the golden mussel, which are able to cause genotoxicity and changes in redox metabolism of cells. These results reinforce the care that must be applied to the release of TiO2-NP in the environment due to problems caused by nanoparticles exposure. Furthermore, the data presented demonstrate the potential L. fortunei as biomonitor organism for exposure to nanoparticles.

Orientador: Joaquim Gonçalves Machado Neto / Banca: Marco Antônio de Andrade Belo / Banca: Claudinei da Cruz / Resumo: O uso do inseticida fipronil em grandes quantidades pode gerar resíduos no ambiente, principalmente nos ambientes hídricos. Assim, objetivou-se: 1) classificar o fipronil pela toxicidade aguda (CL(I)50 ou CE(I)50) para sete espécies aquáticas; 2) selecionar as espécies não alvos mais adequadas para monitorar a contaminação das águas com fipronil com base em três classificações de risco de intoxicação ambiental; e 3) avaliar as alterações nas variáveis da qualidade de água nos ensaios de toxicidade aguda para peixes e caramujo. Para tanto, foram realizados ensaios de toxidade aguda para cada espécie de acordo com as normas da ABNT (2011) e os valores de CL50 foram classificados de acordo com Zucker (1985). As espécies avaliadas foram os peixes mato-grosso (Hyphessobycon eques), pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) e tilápia (Oreochromis niloticus); o caramujo (Pomacea canaliculata), a Daphnia magna, e as macrofitas aquáticas Lemna minor e Azolla caroliniana. O risco ambiental do fipronil foi classificado de acordo com três tipos de classificação, calculado pela divisão entre o valor da concentração ambiental estimada (mgL-1) pela CL(I)50 ou CE(I)50 (mg L-1) para cada espécie. A CL50;48h do fipronil foi de: 0,28 mg L-1 para o mato-grosso; 0,45 mg L-1 para o pacu; 0,08 mg L-1 para a tilápia; a CE50;48h foi de 2629,08 mg L-1 para o caramujo; 0,025 mg L-1 para a D. magna; a CL50;7d foi de 3283,29 mg L-1 para a L. minor, e 7855,41 mg L-1 para a A. caroliniana. O fipronil classifica-se como extremamente tóxico para a tilápia e a D. magna; altamente tóxico para o mato-grosso e pacu; e praticamente não tóxico para o caramujo e para as macrófitas. A D. magna e os peixes são as espécies mais adequadas para monitorar a contaminação de ambientes aquáticos por fipronil. O fipronil pode causar diferentes níveis de redução do oxigênio dissolvido após 48 horas da diluição / Abstract: The use of fipronil pesticide in large quantities can contaminate water resources near areas where it has been used. So, the aim was: 1) classify the fipronil by acute toxicity according to lethal concentration values (LC50 or EC50) for seven aquatic species; 2) select the best non targets species to follow the aquatic contamination by fipronil based in three kinds of environmental risk classification; 3) evaluate changes in water quality caused by fipronil in acute toxicity tests for fishes and snail. For this, acute toxicity tests were performed for each specie according to ABNT (2011) rules, and the LC50 values were classified according to Zucker (1985). Tested species were: mato-grosso (Hyphessobycon eques), pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus); the snail (Pomacea canaliculata), Daphnia magna, the macrophytes Lemna minor e Azolla caroliniana. Environmental risk of fipronil was classified according to three methodologies, calculated by division between estimated environmental concentration of fipronil (mg L-1) and LC50 or EC50 for each specie. LC50 of fipronil was: 0,28 mg L-1 for mato-grosso; 0,45 mg L-1 for pacu; 0,08 mg L-1 for tilápia; EC50;48h was 2629,08 mg L-1 for the snail; 0,025 mg L-1 for D. magna; LC50;7d was 3283,29 mg L-1 for L. minor and 7855,41 mg L-1 for A. caroliniana. Fipronil is classified as extremely toxic to tilapia and D. magna; highly toxic to mato-grosso and pacu; and non-toxic to the snail and macrophytes. D. magna and fishes are the most suitable species for monitoring the contamination of aquatic environments by fipronil. Fipronil may cause different levels of reduction in oxygen dissolved after 48 hours / Mestre

L’objectif de ce travail de thèse était (i) de quantifier la charge de travail (CT) et son évolution au cours de la saison, et (ii) d’étudier ses effets sur la performance, les qualités physiques, le risque de blessures, les caractéristiques psychologiques et biochimiques de rugbymen à XV professionnels. En premier lieu, nous nous sommes intéressés à la quantification de la demande métabolique lors de matchs officiels de haut niveaux (étude 1). Les principaux résultats de cette étude montrent que l’approche de la puissance métabolique constitue une alternative à l’approche traditionnelle pour quantifier les efforts de course de haute intensité. En second lieu, une étude préliminaire (étude 2) a permis d’étudier les évolutions de CT (GPS & RPE), des qualités physiques et des caractéristiques biochimiques, tout au long d’une saison chez des arrières. Un deuxième protocole expérimental (études 3 & 4) a permis de compléter les résultats de l’étude 2, en analysant notamment l’influence de CT sur l’évolution des caractéristiques psychologiques, du taux de blessures et de la performance en match. Les études 2, 3 et 4 montrent que CT est significativement (p < 0.05) plus élevée pendant la première partie de la saison (présaison et début du championnat). Ces études montrent également que la CT compétitive et le nombre d’impacts sévères (>8G) sont les principaux paramètres de CT influençant les réponses physiologiques des joueurs. Ces paramètres influencent les caractéristiques psychologiques, les marqueurs des dommages musculaires (CK) et le nombre de duels gagnés en compétition. Ces études montrent aussi qu’un volume d’entraînement élevé associé à une faible intensité d’entraînement influencent négativement les performances neuromusculaires (Tests DJ et CMJ). Enfin, l’addition d’entraînements avec contacts et l’accumulation de CT compétitive peut favoriser l’apparition d’un état de fatigue avancée (surcharge non-fonctionnelle), illustrée par une diminution significative (p < 0.05) des ratios T/C et IGF-1/C. / The aim of this thesis was to quantify the workload (WL) and its evolution over the course of a competitive season, as its influence on performance, physical abilities, injury risk, biochemical and psychological characteristics of professional Rugby union (RU) players. Firstly, we were interested in the quantification of metabolic demands during elite RU games. The main results showed that metabolic power approach represents an interesting alternative to traditional approach to quantify the high-intensity running efforts during RU games. Secondly, preliminary study (study 2) allow to quantify changes in WL (GPS & RPE), physical abilities and biochemical characteristics, throughout a season in back players. Another experimental (studies 3 & 4) protocol allow to complete the results of the 2nd study by integrating the analysis of the changes in psychological characteristics, in injury rates and in game performance. The studies 2, 3 and 4 showed that WL was significantly (p < 0.05) higher during the first part of the season. These studies also demonstrated that competitive WL and the number of severe impacts (>8G) are the main WL parameters that most influence the physiological adaptations in elite RU players. These parameters affect the psychological characteristics, markers of muscle damages (CK) et the number of offensive duels won during the games. These studies also showed that a high volume combined to low-intensity of training contribute to decrease neuromuscular performance (CMJ, DJ tests). Finally, the combination of training including contacts and accumulation of competitive WL may contribute to the appearance of overreaching states (or non-functional overreaching), illustrating by significant decrease in T/C and IGF-1/C ratios.

A nanotecnologia é uma das áreas de maior desenvolvimento da atualidade. Nanopartículas de dióxido de titânio (TiO2-NP) têm sido amplamente utilizadas em diversos produtos e processos nos últimos anos. Como consequência, estas nanopartículas são liberadas em efluentes e águas residuais, atingindo os compartimentos aquáticos. Com isso, a avaliação do impacto biológico das TiO2-NP se torna de grande importância na área de ecotoxicidade. O mexilhão dourado (Limnoperna fortunei) é um molusco bivalve de água doce muito utilizado no biomonitoramento ambiental, considerado organismo alvo para toxicidade de TiO2-NP no ambiente aquático. Neste trabalho, os exemplares do L. fortunei foram expostos às TiO2-NP (1, 5, 10 e 50 μg mL-1), as quais foram previamente caracterizadas físicoquimicamente. A avaliação toxicológica se deu através do ensaio cometa, teste de micronúcleos, avaliação dos danos oxidativo a lipídios e proteínas e avaliação das defesas antioxidantes através da atividade das enzimas superóxido dismutase (Sod) e catalase (Cat) e do conteúdo sulfidril de proteínas. A interação de TiO2-NP com os hemócitos do mexilhão dourado foi avaliada utilizando microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (MET). Os resultados mostraram que as TiO2-NP apresentaram tamanho médio de cerca de 20 nm e são compostas pelas estruturas cristalinas anatase e rutilo, com área superficial de 46,26 m2 g-1. As soluções de 1, 5, 10 e 50 μg mL-1 TiO2-NP utilizadas apresentaram baixa estabilidade com tendência à formação de agregados. A genotoxicidade das TiO2-NP foi evidenciada pelos danos ao DNA do L. fortunei verificados após 2 h de exposição e aumentada após 4 h para todas as concentrações testadas. TiO2-NP não foram capazes de induzir a formação de micronúcleos nos hemócitos do mexilhão dourado. Os mexilhões apresentaram aumento nos níveis de peroxidação lipídica e do conteúdo de proteínas carboniladas após 2 h de exposição às concentrações de TiO2-NP utilizadas. Após 4 h de exposição, esses valores não apresentaram diferença do controle. A atividade da enzima Sod foi diminuída após 2 h de exposição para todas as concentrações testadas de TiO2-NP. A enzima Cat apresentou diminuição na atividade após 2 h de exposição dos mexilhões às concentrações de 10 e 50 μg mL-1 TiO2-NP. As defesas antioxidantes não enzimáticas foram diminuídas após 2 h de exposição dos mexilhões a todas as concentrações de TiO2-NP utilizadas. Após 4 h de exposição, tanto as defesas antioxidantes enzimáticas como as não enzimáticas foram restauradas. Conforme análise das imagens de MET, TiO2-NP foram internalizadas nos hemócitos do mexilhão dourado, ocasionando alterações na estrutura da membrana plasmática. As TiO2-NP causaram efeitos toxicológicos no mexilhão dourado, capazes de causar genotoxicidade e alterações no metabolismo redox nas células dos animais. Estes resultados reforçam os cuidados que devem ser aplicados na liberação das TiO2-NP no ambiente, devido a problemas causados pela exposição às nanopartículas. Além disso, os dados apresentados demonstram o potencial do L. fortunei como organismo biomonitor para a exposição às nanopartículas. / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, FAPERGS. / Nanotechnology is one of the fastest-growing areas of the actuality. Nanoparticles of titanium dioxide (TiO2-NP) have been widely used in many products and processes in recent years. As consequence, these nanoparticles are release into effluent and wastewater, reaching water compartments. Thus, the evaluation of the biological impact of TiO2-NP becomes of great importance for ecotoxicity. The golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) is a freshwater bivalve mollusk often used in biomonitoring, considered target organism for TiO2-NP toxicity in the aquatic environment. In this work, L. fortunei were exposed to TiO2-NP (1, 5, 10 and 50 μg mL-1), which were previously physic-chemically characterized. The toxicological evaluation was performed using the comet assay, micronucleus test, evaluation of oxidative damage to lipids and proteins, assessment of antioxidant defences through the activity of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (Sod) and catalase (Cat) and the protein sulfhydryl content. The TiO2-NP interaction with the haemocytes of golden mussel was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that TiO2-NP presented average size about 20nm, composed of the anatase and rutile crystalline structures, with surface area of 46.26 m2 g-1. The TiO2-NP solutions of 1, 5, 10 and 50 μg mL-1 used showed low stability with a tendency to form aggregates. The genotoxicity of TiO2-NP was evidenced by DNA damage of L. fortunei after 2 h of exposure and increased after 4 h for all concentrations tested. TiO2-NP was not able to induce micronucleus in haemocytes of golden mussels. The mussels showed an increase in lipid peroxidation levels and carbonylated proteins content after 2 h of exposure to the concentrations of TiO2-NP used. After 4 h of exposure, these values showed no difference compared to control. Sod enzyme activity was decreased after 2 h of exposure for all tested concentrations of TiO2-NP. Cat enzyme activity decreased after 2 h of exposure of the mussels to concentrations of 10 and 50 μg mL-1 TiO2-NP. The non-enzymatic antioxidant defences decreased after 2 h of mussels exposure of all TiO2-NP concentrations used. The mussels showed increased levels of lipid peroxidation and carbonyl proteins after 2 h of exposure to TiO2-NP, showing no similar effects after 4 h of exposure. The enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants defences were depleted after 2 h of TiO2-NP exposure to the mussels. After 4 h of exposure, both enzymatic antioxidant and non-enzymatic defences were restored. As shown by the TEM image analysis, TiO2-NP was internalized by haemocytes of the golden mussel, causing changes in plasmatic membrane structure. The TiO2-NP cause toxicological effects on the golden mussel, which are able to cause genotoxicity and changes in redox metabolism of cells. These results reinforce the care that must be applied to the release of TiO2-NP in the environment due to problems caused by nanoparticles exposure. Furthermore, the data presented demonstrate the potential L. fortunei as biomonitor organism for exposure to nanoparticles.