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trophic levels for many other organisms, including terrestrial ones, and therefore,
toxicity aspects of nanoengineered nanostructures play a critical role. In this chapter, we review some important nanostructures, including carbonaceous materials as
carbon nanotubes and graphene, and also varied nanoparticles, including copper
oxide, hydroxyapatite, silver, and zinc oxide nanoparticles, as well as their toxicities toward aquatic organisms, including microalgae, microcrustaceans, and fishes.
We also present some aspects about nanostructure risk assessments for nanomaterials, and, finally, we show some trends regarding toxicity aspects and protection
regulation.
Keywords Toxicity tests · Ecotoxicology · Algae · Daphnia · Fish · Graphene ·
Silver nanoparticles · Carbon nanotubes · Hydroxyapatite
7.1 Introduction to Nanomaterials and Toxicity Aspects
Nanotechnology has allowed the development of engineered nanostructures, including quantum dots, nanoparticles, nanofibers, nanostructured films, etc., with customized properties for varied applications. Such nanostructures display a high
surface area/volume ratio (and consequently higher chemical reactivity) and quantum confinement effects, which allow them with special features to be used in applications ranging from nanoelectronics and nanophotonics, drug delivery systems,
tissue engineering platforms, smart food packaging nanocomposites, sensors and
biosensors, etc. (Mauter et al. 2018; Andre et al. 2018; Mercante et al. 2017; dos
Santos et al. 2020).
In agriculture, nanotechnology has been applied on the development of novel fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and veterinary drugs (Prasad et al. 2014; Rai et al.
2014; FAO/WHO 2010) with the objective of optmizing their release in a controlled
manner so that product delivery occurs selectively, with minimum chemicals utilization. For instance, nanoencapsulation has been successfully employed as a more
efficient and safer strategy for handling pesticides with less harm to the environment (Nair et al. 2010; Rai et al. 2014).
Engineered nanostructures are of pronounced significance due to the large possibilities of chemical synthesis routes and functionalization for improving the material’s final properties. Traditional nanostructures include silver nanoparticles,
graphene oxide, zinc oxide nanoparticles, titanium dioxide nanoparticles, and
single- walled or multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Silver nanoparticles, for instance,
are nowadays widely employed in commercialized products, mainly due to their
remarkable antibacterial properties (McGillicuddy et al. 2017).
However, the widespread use of engineered nanostructures in food industry and
agriculture raises concern about toxicological effects to the humans and biota. For
instance, nanomaterials can reach the aquatic environment, through several routes,
including surface leaching, municipal wastewater treatment plants, and water purification purposes. That is the reason why aquatic ecosystems can be considered as
F. F. Pereira et al.
trophic levels for many other organisms, including terrestrial ones, and therefore,
toxicity aspects of nanoengineered nanostructures play a critical role. In this chapter, we review some important nanostructures, including carbonaceous materials as
carbon nanotubes and graphene, and also varied nanoparticles, including copper
oxide, hydroxyapatite, silver, and zinc oxide nanoparticles, as well as their toxicities toward aquatic organisms, including microalgae, microcrustaceans, and fishes.
We also present some aspects about nanostructure risk assessments for nanomaterials, and, finally, we show some trends regarding toxicity aspects and protection
regulation.
Keywords Toxicity tests · Ecotoxicology · Algae · Daphnia · Fish · Graphene ·
Silver nanoparticles · Carbon nanotubes · Hydroxyapatite
7.1 Introduction to Nanomaterials and Toxicity Aspects
Nanotechnology has allowed the development of engineered nanostructures, including quantum dots, nanoparticles, nanofibers, nanostructured films, etc., with customized properties for varied applications. Such nanostructures display a high
surface area/volume ratio (and consequently higher chemical reactivity) and quantum confinement effects, which allow them with special features to be used in applications ranging from nanoelectronics and nanophotonics, drug delivery systems,
tissue engineering platforms, smart food packaging nanocomposites, sensors and
biosensors, etc. (Mauter et al. 2018; Andre et al. 2018; Mercante et al. 2017; dos
Santos et al. 2020).
In agriculture, nanotechnology has been applied on the development of novel fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and veterinary drugs (Prasad et al. 2014; Rai et al.
2014; FAO/WHO 2010) with the objective of optmizing their release in a controlled
manner so that product delivery occurs selectively, with minimum chemicals utilization. For instance, nanoencapsulation has been successfully employed as a more
efficient and safer strategy for handling pesticides with less harm to the environment (Nair et al. 2010; Rai et al. 2014).
Engineered nanostructures are of pronounced significance due to the large possibilities of chemical synthesis routes and functionalization for improving the material’s final properties. Traditional nanostructures include silver nanoparticles,
graphene oxide, zinc oxide nanoparticles, titanium dioxide nanoparticles, and
single- walled or multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Silver nanoparticles, for instance,
are nowadays widely employed in commercialized products, mainly due to their
remarkable antibacterial properties (McGillicuddy et al. 2017).
However, the widespread use of engineered nanostructures in food industry and
agriculture raises concern about toxicological effects to the humans and biota. For
instance, nanomaterials can reach the aquatic environment, through several routes,
including surface leaching, municipal wastewater treatment plants, and water purification purposes. That is the reason why aquatic ecosystems can be considered as
F. F. Pereira et al.