Antonia Praetorius et al. from ETH Zurich, Switzerland, and Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, present a research agenda in this Perspective article to maximise effective risk assessment of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in aquatic environments.
They consider the huge complexity of the task ahead in their discussion, recommending that the main components of exposure are identified, the approach is simplified and that the most environmentally relevant materials are prioritised. Their discussion involves:
- A simplified approach – grouping ENPs by size, product type, emission and fate
- Identifying external parameters that effect exposure such as pH to give appropriate experimental conditions for assessment
- Modelling – ability to test different scenarios and predictions of emissions; fate and exposure; bottom-up and top-down approaches
- Combining modelling and experiments
They emphasise the importance of a collaborative approach with a feedback loop between modelling and experiments and consensus on grouping and parameters.
This Perspective is free to access for the next 4 weeks*. Read the authors’ vision for risk assessment of engineered nanoparticles now by clicking the link below:
Facing complexity through informed simplifications: a research agenda for aquatic exposure assessment of nanoparticles
Antonia Praetorius, Rickard Arvidsson, Sverker Molander and Martin Scheringer
DOI: 10.1039/C2EM30677H
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