Chapter 28
Ecotoxicity of Nanomaterials Used
for Remediation
Claire Coutris, Alena Ševců, and Erik J. Joner
Abstract Remediation using nanoparticles depends on proper documentation of
safety aspects, one of which is their ecotoxicology. Ecotoxicology of nanoparticles
has some special features; while traditional ecotoxicology aims at measuring possible negative effects of more or less soluble chemicals or dissolved elements,
nanoecotoxicology aims at measuring the toxicity of particles, and its main focus
is on effects that are unique to nano-sized particles, as compared to larger particles or
solutes. One of the main challenges when testing the ecotoxicity of nanoparticles lies
in maintaining stable and reproducible exposure conditions, and adapting these to
selected test organisms and endpoints. Another challenge is to use test media that are
relevant to the matrices to be treated. Testing of nanoparticles used for remediation,
particularly redox-active Fe-based nanoparticles, should also make sure to exclude
confounding effects of altered redox potential that are not nanoparticle-specific. Yet
another unique aspect of nanoparticles used for remediation is considerations of
ageing of nanoparticles in soil or water, leading to reduced toxicity over fieldrelevant time scales. This review discusses these and other aspects of how to design
and interpret appropriate tests and use these in hazard descriptions for subsequent
risk assessments.
Keywords Environment · Nanoparticles · Organic pollutants · Polluted soil ·
Toxicity
C. Coutris · E. J. Joner (*)
Division of Environment and Natural Resources, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research,
Ås, Norway
e-mail: erik.joner@nibio.no
A. Ševců
Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation, Technical University of
Liberec, Liberec, Czech Republic
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
J. Filip et al. (eds.), Advanced Nano-Bio Technologies for Water and Soil Treatment,
Applied Environmental Science and Engineering for a Sustainable Future,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29840-1_28
573
Ecotoxicity of Nanomaterials Used
for Remediation
Claire Coutris, Alena Ševců, and Erik J. Joner
Abstract Remediation using nanoparticles depends on proper documentation of
safety aspects, one of which is their ecotoxicology. Ecotoxicology of nanoparticles
has some special features; while traditional ecotoxicology aims at measuring possible negative effects of more or less soluble chemicals or dissolved elements,
nanoecotoxicology aims at measuring the toxicity of particles, and its main focus
is on effects that are unique to nano-sized particles, as compared to larger particles or
solutes. One of the main challenges when testing the ecotoxicity of nanoparticles lies
in maintaining stable and reproducible exposure conditions, and adapting these to
selected test organisms and endpoints. Another challenge is to use test media that are
relevant to the matrices to be treated. Testing of nanoparticles used for remediation,
particularly redox-active Fe-based nanoparticles, should also make sure to exclude
confounding effects of altered redox potential that are not nanoparticle-specific. Yet
another unique aspect of nanoparticles used for remediation is considerations of
ageing of nanoparticles in soil or water, leading to reduced toxicity over fieldrelevant time scales. This review discusses these and other aspects of how to design
and interpret appropriate tests and use these in hazard descriptions for subsequent
risk assessments.
Keywords Environment · Nanoparticles · Organic pollutants · Polluted soil ·
Toxicity
C. Coutris · E. J. Joner (*)
Division of Environment and Natural Resources, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research,
Ås, Norway
e-mail: erik.joner@nibio.no
A. Ševců
Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation, Technical University of
Liberec, Liberec, Czech Republic
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
J. Filip et al. (eds.), Advanced Nano-Bio Technologies for Water and Soil Treatment,
Applied Environmental Science and Engineering for a Sustainable Future,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29840-1_28
573