Environmental behavior and ecotoxicity of engineered nanoparticles to algae, plants, and fungi (original) (raw)
Related papers
2013
In order to assess the overall risk posed by engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), the biological effects of this emergent pollutant to aquatic ecosystems must be evaluated. We present findings from studies conducted with a diversity of ENPs (metallic, quantum dots) on a variety of freshwater and marine algae (phytoplankton) illustrating both their direct and indirect effects. We show that in general, while the surface properties of ENPs govern their aggregation behavior and ionic strength controls their dissolution, exopolymeric substances (EPS) produced by algae determine their potential to be toxic and thereby movement through the water column and food web. The production of EPS reduces the impact of ENPs (bioavailability and toxicity) and/or their ions on cellular activities of algae. It does not however directly reduce the aggregation and/or solubility of ENPs but rather affects their stability. Complicating understanding of these interactions is the great assortment of surface coatings for ENPs. This perspective is intended to highlight our current knowledge and the need for future research particularly focused on determining the fate and transport of ENPs in the aquatic environment.
Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 2020
The rapid development in nanotechnology and incorporation of engineered nano-particles (ENPs) in a wide range of consumer products releasing the massive quantities of ENPs in different environmental compartments. The released ENPs from nanoenabled products during their life cycle raising environmental health and safety issues. This review addresses the recent state of knowledge regarding the ENPs ecotoxicity to various organisms lying at different trophic levels. Studies show that reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated oxidative stress is the primary mechanism of nano-toxicity, either through physical damage by direct contact or release of toxic ions after ENPs dissolution process. Moreover, ENPs uptake, transformation and toxicity on physiomorphological, biochemical and molecular levels in primary producers of terrestrial environment (plants) were also reviewed. Additionally, the intrinsic detoxification mechanism in plants in response to ENPs accumulation was also examined. In the end different sustainable approaches such as biogenic synthesis, clay minerals role, biochar application, bioremediation, and legislative measures are proposed for effective handling and treatment of nano-wastes to get the maximum benefits of nanotechnology with minimum negative outcomes.
Bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of engineered nanoparticles in aquatic organisms
2015
DTU Orbit (18/01/2019) Bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of engineered nanoparticles in aquatic organisms Use of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) (particles with a diameter of 1 to 100nm) is increasing. Engineered NPs are used in a wide variety of consumer product, industrial uses and remediation of pollutants. The increasing use is due to novel physical and chemical properties varying from that of their bulk forms. With release of ENPs to the environment a need for evaluation of the potential risk of ENPs is necessary. Potential risks are assessed through a chemical safety assessment. Test guidelines (TGs) to evaluate the risk of compounds for the chemical safety assessment were developed for soluble chemicals. However, with fundamentally different chemical and physical properties of ENPs compared to soluble chemicals current TGs could be inadequate and possibly lead to wrong interpretation of results obtained. One of the key issues is the dual action of ENPs consisting both of a...
Nanotoxicity at various trophic levels: a review. Biosafety of nanoparticles
Nanotoxicity refers to the physiological and metabolic interruptions caused by engineered nano-particles that may differ at various trophic levels of ecological pyramids. This review focuses on the nanotoxicity events that are reported in literature in a wide array of living organisms such as algae, microbes, plants, fishes, rodents and humans. Literature survey reveals that even adaptive organisms such as algae which have proved to tolerate adverse and fluctuating environmental conditions are prone to nanotoxicity as a result of defective photosynthetic system. The microbes such as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and other beneficial soil microorganisms have been reported to be inhibited in its functionalities by nanoparticles but their relative toxicities are quite inconclusive and warrant further investigations. Despite plants have evolved tolerance mechanisms to deter xenobiotics, they expressed their sensitivity to some of the nano-particles as a consequence of physical and chemical routes of action. In animal models (rodents), the data have vividly shown that the nanoparticles have caused significant inflammatory effects while in aquatic system (fish) nanoparticles are found to accumulate in various organs besides causing morphological dysfunctions. In the case of humans, nano-particles enter primarily through inhalation which causes inflammation and ultimately cancer. Overall, the nanotoxicity in biological systems is mainly caused by the excessive production of reactive oxygen species that damages the living cells. Despite this mechanism has been unequivocally demonstrated in some case studies, scientists are still working harder to establish a clear relationship between nanoparticles and its toxicity impacts.
Nanotoxicology, 2013
Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) will be released to the environment during use or following the disposal of ENPcontaining products and concerns have been raised over the risks of ENPs to the environment. Many studies have explored the toxicity of ENPs to aquatic organisms but these studies have usually been performed with little understanding of the ENPs' behaviour in the test media and the relationship between behaviour in the media to behaviour in natural waters. This study evaluated and compared the aggregation behaviour of four model gold nanoparticle (NP) types (coated with neutral, negative, positive and amphoteric cappings) in standard ecotoxicity test media and natural waters. The effects of humic acid (HA) and test organisms on aggregation were also investigated. In standard media, positive and neutral NPs were stable, whereas amphoteric and negative NPs generally showed substantial aggregation. In natural waters, amphoteric NPs were generally found to be stable, neutral and positive NPs showed substantial aggregation while negative NPs were stable in some waters and unstable in others. HA addition stabilised the amphoteric NPs, destabilised the positive NPs and had no effect on stability of negative NPs. The presence of invertebrates generally lowered the degree of particle aggregation while macrophytes had no effect. Given the dramatically different behaviours of ENPs in various standard media and natural waters, current regulatory testing may either under-or overestimate the toxicity of nanomaterials to aquatic organisms. Therefore, there is a pressing need to employ ecotoxicity media which better represent the behaviour of ENPs in natural system.
Toxicology Reports, 2017
Presently, engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are used in a wide variety of commercial applications, resulting in an uncontrolled introduction into the aquatic environment. The purpose of this review is to summarize the pathways and factors that controlling the transport and toxicity of five extensively used ENMs. These toxicological pathways are of great importance and need to be addressed for sustainable implications of ENMs without environmental liabilities. Here we discuss five potentially utilized ENMs with their possible toxicological risk factors to aquatic plants, vertebrates model and microbes. Moreover, the key effect of ENMs surface transformations by significant reaction with environmental objects such as dissolved natural organic matter (DOM) and the effect of ENMs surface coating and surface charge will also be debated. The transformations of ENMs are subsequently facing a major ecological transition that is expected to create a substantial toxicological effect towards the ecosystem. These transformations largely involve chemical and physical processes, which depend on the properties of both ENMs and the receiving medium. In this review article, the critical issues that controlling the transport and toxicity of ENMs are reviewed by exploiting the latest reports and future directions and targets are keenly discussed to minimize the pessimistic effects of ENMs.
CRC Press , 2016
Nanotechnology research is currently an area of intense scientific interest, because of a wide variety of potential applications due to unique size-dependent properties. These properties make nanoparticles superior and indispensable, as they show unusual physical and chemical properties such as conductivity, heat transfer, melting temperature, optical properties, and magnetization. Due to the wide production and applications of engineered nanoparticles, their release into the environment has significantly increased. The behavior of nanoparticles and their effects on both biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystems are not yet well established. Moreover, the process and rate of degradation of these nanoparticles are unknown, thereby leading to their accumulation in the environment. Therefore, nanoparticles have major impacts on ecosystems and the environment. Some of the engineered nanoparticles, such as silver nanoparticles, have a known antimicrobial effect, and their presence may lead to the killing of pathogenic as well as beneficial microorganisms in the environment, which may affect various environmental processes such as biogeochemical cycles. Nanoparticles also tend to accumulate in marine and aquatic environments, thus affecting aquatic microorganisms and macroorganisms. Therefore, in this chapter, the uses of nanoparticles, their entry into the ecosystem, and their impact on the organisms present there are discussed.
Journal of Botany, 2012
Nanoparticles (NPs) are characterized by their small size (less than 100 nm) and large surface area, which confer specific physicochemical properties as strength, electrical, and optical features. NPs can be derived from natural or anthropic sources, such as engineered or unwanted/incidental NPs. The composition, dimension, and morphology of engineered NPs enable their use in a variety of areas, such as electronic, biomedical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, energy, environmental, catalysis, and materials science. As nanotechnology is an innovative and scientific growth area with an exponential production, more information is needed concerning the impacts of these nanomaterials (NMs) in the environment and, particularly, in animals/humans health and in plants performance. So, research on NPs as emerging contaminants is therefore a new field in environmental health. This minireview describes, briefly, the NPs characterization and their occurrence in the environment stating air, water, and ...
The ecotoxicology and chemistry of manufactured nanoparticles
Ecotoxicology, 2008
The emerging literature on the ecotoxicity of nanoparticles and nanomaterials is summarised, then the fundamental physico-chemistry that governs particle behaviour is explained in an ecotoxicological context. Techniques for measuring nanoparticles in various biological and chemical matrices are also outlined. The emerging ecotoxicological literature shows toxic effects on fish and invertebrates, often at low mg l−1 concentrations of nanoparticles. However, data on bacteria, plants, and terrestrial species are particularly lacking at present. Initial data suggest that at least some manufactured nanoparticles may interact with other contaminants, influencing their ecotoxicity. Particle behaviour is influenced by particle size, shape, surface charge, and the presence of other materials in the environment. Nanoparticles tend to aggregate in hard water and seawater, and are greatly influenced by the specific type of organic matter or other natural particles (colloids) present in freshwater. The state of dispersion will alter ecotoxicity, but many abiotic factors that influence this, such as pH, salinity, and the presence of organic matter remain to be systematically investigated as part of ecotoxicological studies. Concentrations of manufactured nanoparticles have rarely been measured in the environment to date. Various techniques are available to characterise nanoparticles for exposure and dosimetry, although each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages for the ecotoxicologist. We conclude with a consideration of implications for environmental risk assessment of manufactured nanoparticles.