Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
important to determine disposition (i.e., fate) and exposure levels of organisms in the
environment to these and other NMs that pose potential adverse environmental risk.
Significant new research is needed to understand the mechanisms of how NMs induce
adverse health effects (i.e., toxicity assessment in Figure 16.6) such as acute or chronic
toxicity, impacts on reproduction, ecosystem diversity, etc.
Data Collection
and Evaluation
Toxicity
Assessment
Exposure
Assessment
Risk
Characterization
Risk
Management
Figure 16.6 Risk assessment paradigm for environmental pollutants.
While toxicity effects and the associated challenges of evaluating the biological
implications of engineered NMs is critical, it is not a focus for the remaining part of this
chapter. Instead the focus for the remaining parts of this chapter is on the equally
important, but currently largely overlooked, issue of NM exposure assessment.
Currently, there are several gaps that limit current knowledge for understanding NMs
exposure in aquatic ecosystems:
1.
Detecting and quantifying of engineered NMs in environmental samples,
including determination of which properties (mass/number/surface area
concentration, shape, crystallography) is most important for environmental risk;
2.
Recognizing that type, functionality and properties of engineered NMs used in
commercial products may differ significantly from “reagent” grade NMs for
which most research to date has been conducted;
3.
Understanding how water quality and biogeochemical processes affect
engineered NMs in the environment; and
4.
Modeling the flux/movement and ultimate disposition of engineered NMs in the
environment.
 
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