Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 11.9
Examples (Nonexhaustive List) of Causes of Potential Releases Associated with
Waste Management o
f Nanoproducts
Type of Applications
Causes of Potential Releases
Landill
Just as for metals, leaching into soil and surface/groundwater might
occur with various factors influencing the mobility and state of the
nanoparticles released
Bound nanoparticles might be released from their matrix during
decomposition of the original product they were applied to,
possibly leading to a release into the atmosphere via wind uptake
Incineration
Some of the nanoparticles may not be eliminated during the thermal
process (e.g., metal and metal oxides) and be potentially released
into the atmosphere
Recycling
Composting of organic nanomaterials (e.g., nanocellulose).
Recycling of CNT-containing batteries.
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Wastewater treatment
While a fraction of nanoparticles might remain in the final effluent
and thus be emitted to surface water, the rest will be in the sewage
sludge, which will either be landfilled (leaching to soil or water),
incinerated (emitted to air), or spread on land/sea and thus leading
to further emissions into the corresponding compartments.
However, to date, little is known about the efficiency of wastewater
treatment systems regarding nanoparticles.
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exposure to nanoparticles, as also pointed out by Köhler et al.,
72
Abbott and
Maynard,
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or Musee.
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11.3.2.3 Summary and Perspectives
To follow-up on
Table 11.5
, further research should thus be directed toward
(i) developing inventories for the nanoproduct-specific processes, particularly
in the manufacturing stage, where parameterized technology-specific mod-
ules are recommended to be built, and (ii) characterizing nanoparticle emis-
sions during the manufacturing, use, and disposal stages. As an illustrative
example, a qualitative framework highlighting the specific points to cover for
building an inventory for nanosilver T-shirts is presented in
Table 11.10
.
11.3.3 Nano-Specificities for Life Cycle Impact Assessment
11.3.3.1 Life Cycle Impact Assessment Framework for Nanoparticle Toxicity
Existing LCIA methods and research needs:
According to ISO 14042 (2000),
LCIA methods aim to connect each LCI result (emissions and resource extrac-
tion) to the corresponding environmental impacts. The LCIA program of the
UNEP-SETAC Life Cycle Initiative proposes to first model the cause-effect
chain in groups of midpoint categories,
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according to common mechanisms
(e.g., climate change, acidification) or commonly accepted grouping (e.g.,
