Influences of nanoparticles on aquatic organisms: Current situation of nanoparticles effects in aquatic ecosystems

Didem Gökçe

doi:10.37868/sei.v3i1.id136

Abstract

The quick improvement of nanotechnology permits a wide range of utilization of engineered nanoparticles, such as personal care products, medicals, optics, electronics, and automobiles. The nanoparticles manufactured from Ag, Au carbon-nanotube, ZnO, SiO2, TiO2, Cu, Ni, and magnetic ferrites are among the generally utilized in products. The nanoparticles are produced and utilized in large quantities and release into marine and freshwater ecosystems during production, use, discharge, treatment, and deposition. Those particles with a mean size of 1 nm - 100 nm are of potential environmental risks because of their particular qualifications and high reactivity although their great economical values. Based on the studies, the size, shape, and surface physical and chemical characteristics of the nanoparticles show the level of aggregation, solubility, structural and chemical composition, the importance of the use of nanoparticles, and their toxicity with biological systems. Nanoparticles can potentially cause adverse impacts on tissue, cellular, genetic materials, and protein- enzyme levels due to their unique physical and chemical qualifications. In this study, the effects of nanoparticles on aquatic organisms and aquatic ecosystems were evaluated.

Highlights

In the Anthropocene era, many products used in daily life, industry, medical products, personal care products and cosmetics contain nanoparticles or are made of nanomaterials
Monikh et al studied that combinations of different physical characteristics as size, shape and the natural organic matter (NOM)-ecocorona of Au NPs impact the attachment of the particles to algae [23]
There is limited information regarding nanoparticles’ impact on the biota and ecosystem balance/ dynamics.By consuming organisms contaminated with NPs, NPs in the food web are transferred to higher-level organisms

Summary

Introduction

In the Anthropocene era, many products used in daily life, industry, medical products, personal care products and cosmetics contain nanoparticles or are made of nanomaterials. Incidental or industrially produced unbound or agglomerated particle-containing materials with a ratio of about > 50% in the 1–100 nm size range are defined by the European Commission (2011/696/EU), as nanomaterials [1]. Nanoparticles (NPs) are produced and used in large quantities, and are freely released directly / indirectly into different water ecosystems during production, use, discharge, disposal, recycling. NPs can enter aquatic ecosystems in different stages: throughout the time of the generation of raw materials and consumer products; throughout the time of the utilize of products containing NP and subsequently discharge [4,5]. NPs can impact freshwater and oceans, harms organisms in different aquatic food web levels. NPs carry potential risks to the ecosystem and human health with its wide applications in commercial and different industrial products. Potential toxicity and behavior of NPs can be affected by various factors such as particle charge, size, chemistry and reactivity, surface area, structure and shape, aggregation state and elemental composition

The structure of nanoparticles

Conclusion