Abstract
Rapid commercialisation of nano-enabled products (NEPs) elevates the potential environmental release of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) along the product life cycle. The current review examined the state of the art literature on aquatic environment exposure and ecotoxicity of product released (PR) engineered nanomaterials (PR–ENMs). Additionally, the data obtained were applied to estimate the risk posed by PR–ENMs to various trophic levels of aquatic biota as a means of identifying priority NEPs cases that may require attention with regards to examining environmental implications. Overall, the PR–ENMs are predominantly associated with the matrix of the respective NEPs, a factor that often hinders proper isolation of nano-driven toxicity effects. Nevertheless, some studies have attributed the toxicity basis of observed adverse effects to a combination of the released ions, ENMs and other components of NEPs. Notwithstanding the limitation of current ecotoxicology data limitations, the risk estimated herein points to an elevated risk towards fish arising from fabrics’ PR–nAg, and the considerable potential effects from sunscreens’ PR–nZnO and PR–nTiO2 to algae, echinoderms, and crustaceans (PR–nZnO), whereas PR–nTiO2 poses no significant risk to echinoderms. Considering that the current data limitations will not be overcome immediately, we recommend the careful application of similar risk estimation to isolate/prioritise cases of NEPs for detailed characterisation of ENMs’ release and effects in aquatic environments.
Highlights
The advancement of nanotechnology has increased the frequency of engineered nanomaterials’ (ENMs) incorporation into products in pursuit of their superior properties to enhance product formulations
Data on the environmental risks associated with product released (PR)–ENMs are limited as their hazard, exposure dynamics and toxicity effects are not well characterised [7,9–12]
The examination of product released ENMs (PR–ENMs)’ environmental exposure and effects are hindered predominantly by the low concentrations that are released into the environment, limiting analytical characterisation and hazard assessment [9,20]
Summary
The advancement of nanotechnology has increased the frequency of engineered nanomaterials’ (ENMs) incorporation into products in pursuit of their superior properties to enhance product formulations. Data on the environmental risks associated with PR–ENMs are limited as their hazard, exposure dynamics and toxicity effects are not well characterised [7,9–12]. This can be attributed to the limited suitability of current analytical techniques to examine. The examination of PR–ENMs’ environmental exposure and effects are hindered predominantly by the low concentrations (ranging in the lower ppb) that are released into the environment, limiting analytical characterisation (exposure) and hazard assessment [9,20]. The current paper reviews the state of the art literature concerning the characterisation of release and toxicity effects of PR–ENMs in aquatic ecosystems and their respective risk to guide the identification of product emissions that could pose notable unwanted consequences. A total of 322 peer-reviewed articles were obtained at the first tier, but 181 were discarded from further analysis as they did not fit the scope of this review; 142 articled were reviewed
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