scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question
Journal ArticleDOI

Modeled Environmental Concentrations of Engineered Nanomaterials (TiO2, ZnO, Ag, CNT, Fullerenes) for Different Regions

09 Nov 2009-Environmental Science & Technology (American Chemical Society)-Vol. 43, Iss: 24, pp 9216-9222
TL;DR: The results of this study indicate that risks to aquatic organisms may currently emanate from nano- Ag, nano-TiO(2), and nano-ZnO in sewage treatment effluents for all considered regions and for nano-Ag in surface waters.
Abstract: Engineered nanomaterials (ENM) are already used in many products and consequently released into environmental compartments. In this study, we calculated predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) based on a probabilistic material flow analysis from a life-cycle perspective of ENM-containing products. We modeled nano-TiO2, nano-ZnO, nano-Ag, carbon nanotubes (CNT), and fullerenes for the U.S., Europe and Switzerland. The environmental concentrations were calculated as probabilistic density functions and were compared to data from ecotoxicological studies. The simulated modes (most frequent values) range from 0.003 ng L−1 (fullerenes) to 21 ng L−1 (nano-TiO2) for surface waters and from 4 ng L−1 (fullerenes) to 4 μg L−1 (nano-TiO2) for sewage treatment effluents. For Europe and the U.S., the annual increase of ENMs on sludge-treated soil ranges from 1 ng kg−1 for fullerenes to 89 μg kg−1 for nano-TiO2. The results of this study indicate that risks to aquatic organisms may currently emanate from nano-Ag, n...
Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It can be concluded that the therapeutic window for silver is narrower than often assumed, however, the risks for humans and the environment are probably limited.
Abstract: The antibacterial action of silver is utilized in numerous consumer products and medical devices. Metallic silver, silver salts, and also silver nanoparticles are used for this purpose. The state of research on the effect of silver on bacteria, cells, and higher organisms is summarized. It can be concluded that the therapeutic window for silver is narrower than often assumed. However, the risks for humans and the environment are probably limited.

1,787 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the major transformation processes of Ag-NPs in various aqueous environments, particularly transformations of the metallic Ag cores caused by reactions with (in)organic ligands, and the effects of such transformations on physical and chemical stability and toxicity are discussed.
Abstract: Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) readily transform in the environment, which modifies their properties and alters their transport, fate, and toxicity. It is essential to consider such transformations when assessing the potential environmental impact of Ag-NPs. This review discusses the major transformation processes of Ag-NPs in various aqueous environments, particularly transformations of the metallic Ag cores caused by reactions with (in)organic ligands, and the effects of such transformations on physical and chemical stability and toxicity. Thermodynamic arguments are used to predict what forms of oxidized silver will predominate in various environmental scenarios. Silver binds strongly to sulfur (both organic and inorganic) in natural systems (fresh and sea waters) as well as in wastewater treatment plants, where most Ag-NPs are expected to be concentrated and then released. Sulfidation of Ag-NPs results in a significant decrease in their toxicity due to the lower solubility of silver sulfide, potentiall...

1,310 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors combined market information and material flow modeling to produce the first global assessment of the likely ENM emissions to the environment and landfills, estimating that 63-91% of over 260,000-309,000 metric tons of global ENM production in 2010 ended up in landfill, with the balance released into soils, water bodies, and atmosphere.
Abstract: Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are now becoming a significant fraction of the material flows in the global economy. We are already reaping the benefits of improved energy efficiency, material use reduction, and better performance in many existing and new applications that have been enabled by these technological advances. As ENMs pervade the global economy, however, it becomes important to understand their environmental implications. As a first step, we combined ENM market information and material flow modeling to produce the first global assessment of the likely ENM emissions to the environment and landfills. The top ten most produced ENMs by mass were analyzed in a dozen major applications. Emissions during the manufacturing, use, and disposal stages were estimated, including intermediate steps through wastewater treatment plants and waste incineration plants. In 2010, silica, titania, alumina, and iron and zinc oxides dominate the ENM market in terms of mass flow through the global economy, used mostly in coatings/paints/pigments, electronics and optics, cosmetics, energy and environmental applications, and as catalysts. We estimate that 63–91 % of over 260,000–309,000 metric tons of global ENM production in 2010 ended up in landfills, with the balance released into soils (8–28 %), water bodies (0.4–7 %), and atmosphere (0.1–1.5 %). While there are considerable uncertainties in the estimates, the framework for estimating emissions can be easily improved as better data become available. The material flow estimates can be used to quantify emissions at the local level, as inputs for fate and transport models to estimate concentrations in different environmental compartments.

1,159 citations


Cites methods or result from "Modeled Environmental Concentration..."

  • ...…in scope (global vs. regional or single country, types of ENMs), our results are qualitatively in line with those found for Switzerland or the EU (Gottschalk et al. 2009; Gottschalk and Nowack 2011), with differences for expected flow to WWTP, WIP, and landfill, which reflect different waste…...

    [...]

  • ...Expanding on the previous study, Gottschalk et al. (2009) created a probabilistic model using Monte Carlo and Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations to account for the significant variations and uncertainties in the model input parameters....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The ecotoxicological literature shows that concentrations of Ag NPs below the current and future PECs, as low as just a few ng L(-1), can affect prokaryotes, invertebrates and fish indicating a significant potential, though poorly characterised, risk to the environment.

1,115 citations


Cites background from "Modeled Environmental Concentration..."

  • ...4 mg kg−1 in sewage sludge (Gottschalk et al., 2009), with predicted exponential yearly increase of Ag NP in most environmental compartments (Gottschalk et al....

    [...]

  • ..., 2003), although other countries incinerate such waste (Gottschalk et al., 2009)....

    [...]

  • ..., 2009), with predicted exponential yearly increase of Ag NP in most environmental compartments (Gottschalk et al., 2009; Mueller and Nowack, 2008) (Table 3)....

    [...]

  • ...Modelled and experimental data (Geranio et al., 2009; Gottschalk et al., 2009; Luoma, 2008; Mueller and Nowack, 2008) suggest that ng L−1 may be present in surface waters and exponential increases are predicted due to the increase usage and consequently discharge levels....

    [...]

  • ...1 (Gottschalk et al., 2009)....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provided worldwide and Europe-wide estimates for the production and use of ten different engineered nanomaterials (TiO2, ZnO, FeO, AlO�, AlOႷ ₷႔, AlÕ€ Á€ À Á À à ǫ, Alǫ Á à À , SiO2, CeO 2, Ag, QDs, CNT, and fullerenes.
Abstract: Not much is known so far about the amounts of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) that are produced but this information is crucial for environmental exposure assessment. This paper provides worldwide and Europe-wide estimates for the production and use of ten different ENM (TiO2, ZnO, FeO x , AlO x , SiO2, CeO2, Ag, quantum dots, CNT, and fullerenes) based on a survey sent to companies producing and using ENM. The companies were asked about their estimate of the worldwide or regional market and not about their company-specific production, information that they would be less likely to communicate. The study focused on the actual production quantities and not the production capacities. The survey also addressed information on distribution of the produced ENM to different product categories. The results reveal that some ENM are produced in Europe in small amounts (less than 10 t/year for Ag, QDs and fullerenes). The most produced ENM is TiO2 with up to 10,000 t of worldwide production. CeO2, FeO x , AlO x , ZnO, and CNT are produced between 100 and 1000 t/year. The data for SiO2 cover the whole range from less than 10 to more than 10,000 t/year, which is indicative of problems related to the definition of this material (is pyrogenic silica considered an ENM or not?). For seven ENM we have obtained the first estimates for their distribution to different product categories, information that also forms the base for life-cycle based exposure analysis.

1,102 citations


Cites background or methods from "Modeled Environmental Concentration..."

  • ...For nano-TiO2 in cosmetics, for example, Gottschalk et al. (2010b) used an average of 42 % (with range from 0.3 to 81...

    [...]

  • ...However, an analysis of the published data (Gottschalk et al. 2009, 2010a, b; Hendren et al. 2011) with respect to the temporal development reveals no trend for any ENM except for CNT. Figure 3 shows the data for TiO2 and CNT....

    [...]

  • ...Gottschalk et al. (2010b), for example, used a mean percentage of nano-Ag use in textiles of 25 % (with a range from 12 to 49 %), the survey results are 30–50 %....

    [...]

  • ...A first evaluation of product distribution was attempted as a basis for exposure modeling, based on information of commercially available products (Gottschalk et al. 2009, 2010b; Mueller and Nowack 2008)....

    [...]

  • ...The product distributions obtained by the survey agree quite well with the modeled distributions that Mueller and Nowack (2008) and Gottschalk et al. (2009, 2010b) used as basis for first environmental exposure assessments....

    [...]

References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review critiques existing nanomaterial research in freshwater, marine, and soil environments and illustrates the paucity of existing research and demonstrates the need for additional research.
Abstract: 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.

2,566 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review presents an overview of the classes of NP relevant to the environment and summarizes their formation, emission, occurrence and fate in the environment.

2,093 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results of this study make it possible for the first time to carry out a quantitative risk assessment of nanoparticles in the environment and suggest further detailed studies of nano-TiO2.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to use a life-cycle perspective to model the quantities of engineered nanoparticles released into the environment. Three types of nanoparticles were studied: nano silver (nano-Ag), nano TiO2 (nano-TiO2), and carbon nanotubes (CNT). The quantification was based on a substance flow analysis from products to air, soil, and water in Switzerland. The following parameters were used as model inputs: estimated worldwide production volume, allocation of the production volume to product categories, particle release from products, and flow coefficients within the environmental compartments. The predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) were then compared to the predicted no effect concentrations (PNEC) derived from the literature to estimate a possible risk. The expected concentrations of the three nanoparticles in the different environmental compartments vary widely, caused by the different life cycles of the nanoparticle-containing products. The PEC values for nano-TiO2 in water are 0....

1,776 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Variable leaching rates among sock types suggests that the sock manufacturing process may control the release of silver, and physical separation and ion selective electrode (ISE) analyses suggest that both colloidal and ionic silver leach from the socks.
Abstract: Manufacturers of clothing articles employ nanosilver (n-Ag) as an antimicrobial agent, but the environmental impacts of n-Ag release from commercial products are unknown. The quantity and form of the nanomaterials released from consumer products should be determined to assess the environmental risks of nanotechnology. This paper investigates silver released from commercial clothing (socks) into water, and its fate in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Six types of socks contained up to a maximum of 1360 µg-Ag/g-sock and leached as much as 650 µg of silver in 500 mL of distilled water. Microscopy conducted on sock material and wash water revealed the presence of silver particles from 10 to 500 nm in diameter. Physical separation and ion selective electrode (ISE) analyses suggest that both colloidal and ionic silver leach from the socks. Variable leaching rates among sock types suggests that the sock manufacturing process may control the release of silver. The adsorption of the leached silver to WWTP biom...

1,703 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this review, an overview of the chemistry of both manufactured and natural aquatic NPs is outlined and key advances related to the characterisation of the manufactured NPs and natural colloids are identified.

980 citations