Considering the forms of released engineered nanomaterials in probabilistic material flow analysis

Abstract

Most existing models for assessing the releases of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) into the environment are based on the assumption that ENMs remain in their pristine forms during their whole life cycle. It is known, however, that this is not always the case as ENMs are often embedded into solid matrices during manufacturing and can undergo physical or chemical transformations during their life cycle, e.g. upon release to wastewater. In this work, we present a method for systematically assessing the forms in which nano-Ag and nano-TiO flow through their life cycle (i.e. production, manufacturing, use and disposal) to their points of release to air, soil and surface water. Input data on the forms of released ENMs were probability distributions based on peer-reviewed literature. Release data were incorporated into a probabilistic material flow analysis model to quantify the proportions of ENMs in product-embedded, matrix-embedded, pristine, transformed and dissolved forms in all technical and environmental compartments into which they flow, at the European scale. Releases of nano-Ag to surface water and soil were modelled to occur primarily in transformed forms (Q25 and Q75 of 34-58% and 78-86%, respectively, with means of 53% and 82%), while releases to air were mostly in pristine and matrix-embedded forms (38-46% and 36-44%, respectively, with means of 42% and 40%). In contrast, nano-TiO releases to air, soil and water were estimated to be predominantly in pristine form (75-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, respectively, with means of 80%, 91% and 97%). The distributions of ENM releases between forms developed here will improve the representativeness and appropriateness of input data for environmental fate modelling and risk assessment of ENMs.

Developments in the Application of Nanomaterials for Water Treatment and Their Impact on the Environment

“…Currently, the nanomaterials are progressively as well as broadly utilized in several areas, like materials science, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, ecology, and so on [ 150 , 151 ]. On the other hand, the utilization of nanomaterials also causes some unsafe effects on the environment and ecology [ 152 , 153 ]. Several nanomaterials are unavoidably discharged into lakes, rivers, and seas.…”

Risk Management Framework for Nano-Biomaterials Used in Medical Devices and Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products

“…Several MFAs have been conducted for ENMs such as Ti 2 O, Ag, ZnO, SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , quantum dots, iron oxides, carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, using static or dynamic models assessing accumulation of ENMs in environmental compartments over several years [ 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 ]. So far, only two studies are available that modelled the flows of NBM to the environment.…”

Using problem formulation for fit‐for‐purpose pre‐market environmental risk assessments of regulated stressors

“…For example, labile cores of Cu or Ag will often have been sulfidised and the original coatings and shapes degraded or modified (Gogos et al, 2017(Gogos et al, , 2018. The flow to various environmental compartments needs to be modelled carefully taking the different fate parameter of the different forms into account (Adam and Nowack, 2017;Adam et al, 2018;Williams et al, 2019). Once within the soil, the nanomaterial forms relevant to environmental exposure (i.e.…”

“…nanomaterial manufacture, incorporation into the product, daily use, recycling or waste handling (Pomar and Vazquez, ). Many of these releases will enter managed waste streams rather than go directly to the environment, but numerous nanomaterials will eventually enter wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and the transformation processes there drive the exposure‐relevant release forms (Adam et al., ). Within the WWTP, nanomaterials will react and transform, and the majority will sediment and be captured in the sludge, which is then used in many countries across Europe as valuable fertiliser in agriculture.…”