Ecotoxicity of Natural Nanocolloids in Aquatic Environment

Abstract

Nanocolloids (Ncs) are highly dispersed mixtures of nanoscale (1–100 nm) heterogeneous systems, which are ubiquitous in aquatic environments. Ncs are considered a vital pollutant carrier due to their special surface properties and unique hydrodynamic characteristics. They play an essential role in the process of promoting pollutant migration and transformation. In recent years, with the increase in chemicals in the environment and the complexity of environmental pollution, the health threats of Ncs in ecological systems are arousing great concerning. Therefore, recent work to characterize the ecotoxicity of Ncs has focused on the potential environmental health implications, including exploration of toxicity to aquatic organisms from a wide range of the ecosystem food webs. Herein, we summarize the formation, distribution, and characterization of natural Ncs in the marine environments. Moreover, we highlight the adverse impacts of Ncs on representatives of various trophic levels aquatic organisms (e.g., algae, bacteria, invertebrates, and fish). The mechanisms of Ncs ecotoxicity at the cellular level are reviewed, and the remaining unclear points on toxic tools such as oxidative damage and metabolic disorder are presented. We also discuss the research challenges and future developments within the field of ecotoxicity. This study will bridge our knowledge gap on the ecotoxicity of Ncs.