Nanoplastics: Status and Knowledge Gaps in the Finalization of Environmental Risk Assessments
Nanoplastics (NPs) are particles ranging in size between 1 and 1000 nm, and they are a form of environmental contaminant of great ecotoxicological concern. Although NPs are widespread across ecosystems, they have only recently garnered growing attention from both the scientific community and regulat...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Toxics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/10/5/270 |
| _version_ | 1797495013424234496 |
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| author | Andrea Masseroni Cristiana Rizzi Chiara Urani Sara Villa |
| author_facet | Andrea Masseroni Cristiana Rizzi Chiara Urani Sara Villa |
| author_sort | Andrea Masseroni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nanoplastics (NPs) are particles ranging in size between 1 and 1000 nm, and they are a form of environmental contaminant of great ecotoxicological concern. Although NPs are widespread across ecosystems, they have only recently garnered growing attention from both the scientific community and regulatory bodies. The present study reviews scientific literature related to the exposure and effects of NPs and identifies research gaps that impede the finalization of related environmental risk assessments (ERAs). Approximately 80 articles published between 2012 and 2021 were considered. Very few studies (eight articles) focused on the presence of NPs in biotic matrices, whereas the majority of the studies (62 articles) assessed the lethal and sublethal effects of NPs on aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Whilst many studies focused on nude NPs, only a few considered their association with different aggregates. Amongst NPs, the effects of polystyrene are the most extensively reported to date. Moreover, the effects of NPs on aquatic organisms are better characterized than those on terrestrial organisms. NP concentrations detected in water were close to or even higher than the sublethal levels for organisms. An ERA framework specifically tailored to NPs is proposed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:42:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-940a631db5f341e1b42ed28b20190f8d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:42:26Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxics |
| spelling | doaj.art-940a631db5f341e1b42ed28b20190f8d2023-11-23T13:22:15ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042022-05-0110527010.3390/toxics10050270Nanoplastics: Status and Knowledge Gaps in the Finalization of Environmental Risk AssessmentsAndrea Masseroni0Cristiana Rizzi1Chiara Urani2Sara Villa3Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences DISAT, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, ItalyDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences DISAT, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, ItalyDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences DISAT, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, ItalyDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences DISAT, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, ItalyNanoplastics (NPs) are particles ranging in size between 1 and 1000 nm, and they are a form of environmental contaminant of great ecotoxicological concern. Although NPs are widespread across ecosystems, they have only recently garnered growing attention from both the scientific community and regulatory bodies. The present study reviews scientific literature related to the exposure and effects of NPs and identifies research gaps that impede the finalization of related environmental risk assessments (ERAs). Approximately 80 articles published between 2012 and 2021 were considered. Very few studies (eight articles) focused on the presence of NPs in biotic matrices, whereas the majority of the studies (62 articles) assessed the lethal and sublethal effects of NPs on aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Whilst many studies focused on nude NPs, only a few considered their association with different aggregates. Amongst NPs, the effects of polystyrene are the most extensively reported to date. Moreover, the effects of NPs on aquatic organisms are better characterized than those on terrestrial organisms. NP concentrations detected in water were close to or even higher than the sublethal levels for organisms. An ERA framework specifically tailored to NPs is proposed.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/10/5/270nanoplasticsenvironmental risk assessmenteffectsexposurepolystyrene |
| spellingShingle | Andrea Masseroni Cristiana Rizzi Chiara Urani Sara Villa Nanoplastics: Status and Knowledge Gaps in the Finalization of Environmental Risk Assessments Toxics nanoplastics environmental risk assessment effects exposure polystyrene |
| title | Nanoplastics: Status and Knowledge Gaps in the Finalization of Environmental Risk Assessments |
| title_full | Nanoplastics: Status and Knowledge Gaps in the Finalization of Environmental Risk Assessments |
| title_fullStr | Nanoplastics: Status and Knowledge Gaps in the Finalization of Environmental Risk Assessments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nanoplastics: Status and Knowledge Gaps in the Finalization of Environmental Risk Assessments |
| title_short | Nanoplastics: Status and Knowledge Gaps in the Finalization of Environmental Risk Assessments |
| title_sort | nanoplastics status and knowledge gaps in the finalization of environmental risk assessments |
| topic | nanoplastics environmental risk assessment effects exposure polystyrene |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/10/5/270 |
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