Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
10
Environmental Fate and
Ecotoxicolog
y of Nanomaterials
Bernard Lachance, Mahsa Hamzeh, and Geoffrey I. Sunahara
CONTENTS
10.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 177
10.2 Sources and Exposure to Nanomaterials ............................................... 178
10.2.1 Intentional Release into Environment ........................................ 179
10.2.2 Accidental Release into Environment ......................................... 179
10.2.3 Parameters Affecting Environmental Fate and Translocation .... 182
10.3 Ecotoxicity of Nanomaterials ................................................................... 183
10.3.1 Metal, Metal Oxide, and Semiconductor-Based Nanoparticles ... 183
10.3.2 Carbon-Based Nanomaterials ...................................................... 190
10.3.3 Organic Nanomaterials, Nanopesticides, Polymers, and
Dendrimers ..................................................................................... 190
10.3.3.1 Nanoformulated Pesticides ............................................ 193
10.3.3.2 Polymers and Dendrimers ............................................. 194
10.3.4 Factors Affecting Toxicity ............................................................. 194
10.3.5 Adequacy of Current Ecotoxicity Testing Methods .................. 195
10.4 Mechanisms of Ecotoxicity ....................................................................... 196
10.4.1 Photoreactivity ............................................................................... 198
10.4.2 Interactions with Xenobiotics: A Carrier Effect ......................... 198
10.4.3 Bioaccumulation and Trophic Transfer ...................................... 199
10.5 Concluding Remarks ................................................................................. 199
References ............................................................................................................. 201
10.1 Introduction
Nanoecotoxicology is an emerging field of nanotechnology that is still in its
infancy [1]. The peculiar nature of nanomaterials (NMs), which may under-
lie either greater chemical reactivity or even entirely new physico-chemical
properties, relative to their bulk equivalent, is a cause of concern for poten-
tial adverse biological effects [2-4]. Nanoparticles (NPs) have been named
the Jekyll and Hyde of materials science, owing to their unique chemical,
electrical, optical, and physical properties [5].
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