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Ecotoxicity of Manufactured ZnO Nanoparticles - A Review
Citation:
MA, H., P. WILLIAMS, AND S. A. DIAMOND. Ecotoxicity of Manufactured ZnO Nanoparticles - A Review . ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 172:76-85, (2013).
Impact/Purpose:
To document research results
Description:
This report presents an exhaustive literature review on the toxicity of manufactured ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) to ecological receptors across different phylum: bacteria, algae and plants, aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates and freshwater fish. Results show that the majority of studies on ZnO NPs ecotoxicity have been conducted on bacteria, whereas there is a pronounced lack of data in aquatic species such as D. magna and fish, which are of both ecological relevance and regulatory significance. The limited number of studies has indicated acute toxicity of ZnO NPs in the low mg/l and higher to these species. Particle solubilization is an important mechanism of toxicity of the ZnO NPs across all species tested, and phototoxicity may represent another mode of action for ZnO NPs toxicity under environmental relevant UV radiation. Finally, current knowledge gaps on this topic are briefly discussed and a few recommendations for future research are made.