Bioaccumulation of Copper Ions from Nanoflowers in Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Larvae: An ICP-MS Study

The increasing use of engineered nanomaterials across various industries has raised concerns regarding their environmental fate and the potential for unintended bioaccumulation in non-target organisms. In this study, the bioaccumulation of copper ions derived from copper-based nanoflowers was investigated in the larvae of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), an ecologically significant model organism. The larvae were exposed to different doses of nanoflowers (2, 5, 10, and 50 µg/10 µL) under controlled laboratory conditions. At the end of the exposure period (24 h), copper content in the larval shed skin was quantitatively analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results demonstrated a significant accumulation of copper in the tissues of treated larvae compared to the control group, indicating that nanoflowers may serve as a bioavailable source of heavy metals. These findings provide important insights into the potential ecotoxicological risks posed by nanostructured materials in terrestrial ecosystems. Additionally, the study examined the effects of increasing nanoflower doses on the water and ash content of the larvae. The results showed no significant change in water content compared to the control group; however, a significant decrease in ash content was observed in larvae exposed to 2 µg/10 µL and 50 µg/10 µL doses.