The recent advances in nanotechnology and the corresponding increase in the use of nanomaterials in products in every sector of society have resulted in uncertainties regarding environmental impacts. The objectives of this review are to introduce the key aspects pertaining to nanomaterials in the environment and to discuss what is known concerning their fate, behavior, disposition, and toxicity, with a particular focus on those that make up manufactured nanomaterials. This review critiques existing nanomaterial research in freshwater, marine, and soil environments. It illustrates the paucity of existing research and demonstrates the need for additional research. Environmental scientists are encouraged to base this research on existing studies on colloidal behavior and toxicology. The need for standard reference and testing materials as well as methodology for suspension preparation and testing is also discussed.

Nanomaterials in the environment: Behavior, fate, bioavailability, and effects

Occurrence, behavior and effects of nanoparticles in the environment.

Developments in nanotechnology are leading to a rapid proliferation of new materials that are likely to become a source of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) to the environment, where their possible ecotoxicological impacts remain unknown. The surface properties of ENPs are of essential importance for their aggregation behavior, and thus for their mobility in aquatic and terrestrial systems and for their interactions with algae, plants and, fungi. Interactions of ENPs with natural organic matter have to be considered as well, as those will alter the ENPs aggregation behavior in surface waters or in soils. Cells of plants, algae, and fungi possess cell walls that constitute a primary site for interaction and a barrier for the entrance of ENPs. Mechanisms allowing ENPs to pass through cell walls and membranes are as yet poorly understood. Inside cells, ENPs might directly provoke alterations of membranes and other cell structures and molecules, as well as protective mechanisms. Indirect effects of ENPs depend on their chemical and physical properties and may include physical restraints (clogging effects), solubilization of toxic ENP compounds, or production of reactive oxygen species. Many questions regarding the bioavailability of ENPs, their uptake by algae, plants, and fungi and the toxicity mechanisms remain to be elucidated.

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Environmental behavior and ecotoxicity of engineered nanoparticles to algae, plants, and fungi

Phytotoxicity of nanoparticles: Inhibition of seed germination and root growth

Nanoparticulate material delivery to plants

The effects of nano-TiO2 (rutile) and non-nano-TiO2 on the germination and growth of naturally aged spinach seeds were studied by measuring the germination rate and the germination and vigor indexes of aged spinach seeds. An increase of these factors was observed at 0.25–4‰ nano-TiO2 treatment. During the growth stage, the plant dry weight was increased, as was the chlorophyll formation, the ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity, and the photosynthetic rate. The best results were found at 2.5‰ nano-TiO2. The effects of non-nano-TiO2 are not significant. It is shown that the physiological effects are related to the nanometer-size particles, but the mechanism by which nano-TiO2 improves the growth of spinach seeds still needs further study.

Effect of nano-TiO(2) on strength of naturally aged seeds and growth of spinach.

The complex of Rubisco and Rubisco activase from LaCl3
 ™, CeCl3
 ™ treated spinachin vivo is induced. SDS-PAGE result shows that the purified proteins from LaCl3
 ™, CeCl3
 ™ treated spinach have not only large and small subunits (55 kD, 14.4 kD) of Rubisco, but also two large subunits of 45 kD and 41 kD near the large subunits of Rubisco. Native-PAGE shows that the purified proteins from LaCl3
 ™, CeCl3
 ™ treated spinach have not only a band of Rubisco (560 kD), but also a band of about 1100 kD, about twice distant from Rubisco, which might be a complex of Rubisco and Rubisco activase. The purified enzyme activities from LaCl3
 ™, CeCl3
 ™ treated spinach are 1.8 and 2.8 times that of the control, the intensities of absorption and fluorescence are significantly higher than that of the purified Rubisco from the control, and the total sulfhydryl groups and available sulfhydryl groups are 36–39 ™SH per mol enzyme, 14–25 ™SH per mol enzyme more than those of the purified Rubisco from the control, respectively. The CD spectra show that the secondary structure of the purified enzyme from LaCl3
 ™, CeCl3
 ™ treated spinach is very different from the control. The enzyme activities from LaCl3
 ™, CeCl3
 ™ treated spinachin vivo are 1.5 and 1.9 times those of the control.

Shipeng Lu

Papers

Effect of nano-TiO(2) on strength of naturally aged seeds and growth of spinach.

Formation of complexes of Rubisco-Rubisco activase from La3+, Ce3+ treatment spinach