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Brunelli A, Cazzagon V, Faraggiana E, Bettiol C, Picone M, Marcomini A, Badetti E. An overview on dispersion procedures and testing methods for the ecotoxicity testing of nanomaterials in the marine environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 921:171132. [PMID: 38395161 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Considerable efforts have been devoted to develop or adapt existing guidelines and protocols, to obtain robust and reproducible results from (eco)toxicological assays on engineered nanomaterials (NMs). However, while many studies investigated adverse effects of NMs on freshwater species, less attention was posed to the marine environment, a major sink for these contaminants. This review discusses the procedures used to assess the ecotoxicity of NMs in the marine environment, focusing on the use of protocols and methods for preparing NMs dispersions and on the NMs physicochemical characterization in exposure media. To this purpose, a critical analysis of the literature since 2010 was carried out, based on the publication of the first NMs dispersion protocols. Among the 89 selected studies, only <5 % followed a standardized dispersion protocol combined with NMs characterization in ecotoxicological media, while more than half used a non-standardized dispersion method but performed NMs characterization. In the remaining studies, only partial or no information on dispersion procedures or on physicochemical characterization was provided. This literature review also highlighted that metal oxides NMs were the most studied (42 %), but with an increasing interest in last years towards nanoplastics (14 %) and multicomponent nanomaterials (MCNMs, 7 %), in line with the growing attention on these emerging contaminants. For all these NMs, primary producers as algae and bacteria were the most studied groups of marine species, in addition to mollusca, while organisms at higher trophic levels were less represented, likely due to challenges in evaluating adverse effects on more complex organisms. Thus, despite the wide use of NMs in different applications, standard dispersion protocols are not often used for ecotoxicity testing with marine species. However, the efforts to characterize NMs in ecotoxicological media recognize the importance of following conditions that are as standardized as possible to support the ecological hazard assessment of NMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Brunelli
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venice Mestre (VE), 30172, Italy.
| | - Virginia Cazzagon
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venice Mestre (VE), 30172, Italy
| | - Eleonora Faraggiana
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venice Mestre (VE), 30172, Italy
| | - Cinzia Bettiol
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venice Mestre (VE), 30172, Italy
| | - Marco Picone
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venice Mestre (VE), 30172, Italy
| | - Antonio Marcomini
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venice Mestre (VE), 30172, Italy
| | - Elena Badetti
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venice Mestre (VE), 30172, Italy.
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Gomez-Flores A, Bradford SA, Hong G, Kim H. Statistical analysis, machine learning modeling, and text analytics of aggregation attachment efficiency: Mono and binary particle systems. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 454:131482. [PMID: 37119570 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The aggregation attachment efficiency (α) is the fraction of particle-particle collisions resulting in aggregation. Despite significant research, α predictions have not accounted for the full complexity of systems due to constraints imposed by particle types, dispersed matter, water chemistry, quantification methods, and modeling. Experimental α values are often case-specific, and simplified systems are used to rule out complexity. To address these challenges, statistical analysis was performed on α databases to identify gaps in current knowledge, and machine learning (ML) was used to predict α under various particle types and conditions. Moreover, text analytics was employed to support knowledge from statistics and ML, as well as gain insight into the ideas communicated by current literature. Most studies investigated α in mono-particle systems, but binary or higher systems require more investigation. Furthermore, our work highlights that numerous variables, interactions, and mechanisms influence α behavior, making its investigation complex and difficult for both experiments and modeling. Consequently, future research should incorporate more particle types, shapes, coatings, and surface heterogeneities, and aim to address overlooked variables and conditions. Therefore, building a comprehensive α database can enable the development of more accurate empirical models for prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan Gomez-Flores
- Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Scott A Bradford
- USDA, ARS, Sustainable Agricultural Water Systems Unit, 239 Hopkins Road, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Gilsang Hong
- Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunjung Kim
- Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea.
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Ramirez Arenas L, Le Coustumer P, Ramseier Gentile S, Zimmermann S, Stoll S. Removal efficiency and adsorption mechanisms of CeO 2 nanoparticles onto granular activated carbon used in drinking water treatment plants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 856:159261. [PMID: 36208736 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The presence of NPs in drinking water resources raises a global concern on their potential risk for human health, and whether or not drinking water treatment plants are able to effectively remove NPs to prevent their ingestion by humans. In this study, we investigate the efficiency of granular activated carbon (GAC), commonly used in conventional municipal water treatment processes, for the removal of CeO2 NPs. In ultrapure water, NPs are found to have a good affinity for GAC and results indicate an increase in the adsorption capacity from 0.62 ± 0.10 to 5.05 ± 0.51 mg/g, and removal efficiency from 35 % ± 4 to 54 % ± 5 with increasing NPs concentration. Kinetic studies reveal that intraparticle diffusion is not the only rate controlling step indicating that mass transfer effect is also playing a role. Adsorption mechanisms are mainly controlled by the electrostatic attractions between the positively charged NPs and negatively charged GAC. Although electrostatic conditions in Lake Geneva water are less favorable for NPs adsorption, the adsorption capacity and removal efficiency are higher than in ultrapure water with values raising from 0.41 ± 0.17 to 7.13 ± 1.13 mg/g and 26 % ± 8 to 75 % ± 11, respectively. Furthermore, the external mass transfer process onto GAC surface is more important than for ultrapure water. NPs adsorption mechanism is explained by the presence of divalent cations and natural organic matter (NOM) which promote the formation of CeO2 NPs-NOM-divalent cation heteroaggregates increasing both adsorption and removal efficiency by cation bridging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Ramirez Arenas
- Group of Environmental Physical Chemistry, Department F.-A. Forel for environmental and aquatic sciences, University of Geneva, Uni Carl Vogt, 66, boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
| | - Philippe Le Coustumer
- EA CNRS 4592 Géoressources & Environnement, Université Bordeaux Montaigne, 1 allée F. Daguin, F-3607 Pessac, France; CNRS-INRA-Université de Bordeaux UMS 3420, Bordeaux Imaging Center, 146 rue Léo Saignat, CS 61292, F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Stéphane Zimmermann
- SIG, Industrial Boards of Geneva, Ch. du Château-Bloch, Le Lignon, 1211 Genève 2, Switzerland
| | - Serge Stoll
- Group of Environmental Physical Chemistry, Department F.-A. Forel for environmental and aquatic sciences, University of Geneva, Uni Carl Vogt, 66, boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
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Brunelli A, Foscari A, Basei G, Lusvardi G, Bettiol C, Semenzin E, Marcomini A, Badetti E. Colloidal stability classification of TiO 2 nanoparticles in artificial and in natural waters by cluster analysis and a global stability index: Influence of standard and natural colloidal particles. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 829:154658. [PMID: 35307445 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In the field of exposure-driven risk assessment of engineered nanoparticles (NPs), the highly complex interactions of NPs with natural components in surface waters are considered key factors to understand their fate and behavior in the environment. However, since experimental approaches aiming at imitating environmentally relevant conditions include many parameters and lead to a high number of outcomes, statistical tools can be extremely useful to support the results' interpretation. In this context, a multimethod approach was applied to investigate the colloidal behavior of TiO2 NPs in both artificial waters and natural brackish water (from the Venice lagoon, Italy), in the presence of standard kaolinite and natural organic matter (NOM), or of the fine fraction of natural colloidal particles (NCPs) from the lagoon sediment. In detail, the experimental data obtained, i.e. hydrodynamic size, surface charge and sedimentation velocity values, were i) statistically treated by hierarchical clustering and ii) merged into a global stability index (IG). The hierarchical clustering allowed to group the dispersions into three colloidal stability classes, where the main discriminant was the medium composition (i.e. ionic strength and presence of NOM), while the IG allowed to establish a colloidal stability ranking of the dispersions within each class. Moreover, the comparison among the different dispersions suggested that kaolinite could be considered as a suitable surrogate for NCPs, to estimate the colloidal behavior and environmental fate of TiO2 NPs in natural aqueous media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Brunelli
- DAIS - Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30170 Venice Mestre, Italy
| | - Aurelio Foscari
- DAIS - Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30170 Venice Mestre, Italy
| | - Gianpietro Basei
- DAIS - Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30170 Venice Mestre, Italy; GreenDecision Srl, Via Torino 155, 30170 Venice Mestre, Italy
| | - Gigliola Lusvardi
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, Modena, Italy
| | - Cinzia Bettiol
- DAIS - Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30170 Venice Mestre, Italy
| | - Elena Semenzin
- DAIS - Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30170 Venice Mestre, Italy
| | - Antonio Marcomini
- DAIS - Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30170 Venice Mestre, Italy
| | - Elena Badetti
- DAIS - Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30170 Venice Mestre, Italy.
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