Suggested strategies for the ecotoxicology testing of nanoparticles

摘要

To date very little is known regarding the ecotoxicology of nanoparticles, and many of those studies that have been conducted may require careful consideration and interpretation due to the protocols employed. Future studies will need to address a range of species from different guilds (levels of complexity) and from different environments (air, water and soil). The route of exposure will need to be carefully considered in order to generate a system that resembles scenarios that are feasible in the environment. The endpoints that can be measured are also variable, ranging from determining the ability of NP to induce death, but such studies should be enriched by the further inclusion of other endpoints such as biochemical markers of oxidative stress, genotoxicity or histology. In addition to looking at effects at the biochemical, cellular and organismal level, effects at the population level (e.g. reproduction) need also to be considered. There are a number of standard protocols published by the EPA and the EU that should be investigated for the suitability to study NP toxicity, and it is likely that minor modifications will make these useful tools in the future. Finally, in order to allow the rapid progression of NP ecotoxicology, knowledge relating to the toxicology of NP (e.g. importance of surface area and surface reactivity) will be useful when considering experimental design.