Chapter 17 - Fate and potential hazards of nanoparticles in the environment

Abstract

The exponential increase in nanoparticle (NPs) applications consequently increased their exposure in the environment due to inadvertent releases in different stages of their life cycle from manufacturing to disposal. The metal and metal oxide-based NPs such as Ag, TiO2, and ZnO are the most-used NPs in healthcare, sporting goods, paints, and gardening products. The continuous exposure of NPs into the environment can pose hazardous effects to the beneficial organisms and food chains of the ecosystem. There are plenty of studies that show the negative effects of NPs in terrestrial and aquatic organisms, including algae, bacteria, nematodes, protozoa, crustaceans, snails, and fish, under laboratory-scale conditions. The bioaccumulation and biomagnification of NPs has also been well studied in laboratory-scale food chains. A potentially high bioaccumulation potential of certain types of NPs has been demonstrated, including quantum dots, ZnO NPs, and TiO2 NPs. In order to fully understand the NP hazard in a complex environment, the fate and behavior of NPs should be investigated before the actual toxicity assessment in the organisms. At present, studies show that NPs behave differently after entering the environment because of their interaction with abundant biotic and abiotic components. Hence, it is recommended to develop realistic test methods that can mimic complex environmental conditions for a better understanding and extrapolation of the results. This will further help international environmental agencies in preparing guidelines for the safe usage and disposal of NPs.