Internalization of nanoparticles occurred within 48 h. Life cycle parameters were altered by 0.1 mg Zn/L for ZnO and ZnSO4. Chronic exposure to ZnO nanoparticles caused swelling of mitochondria. Chronic exposure to ZnSO4 caused a great number of autophagy vacuoles. The soluble form plays a key role in ZnO nanoparticle cytotoxicity.