Nanomaterials as possible contaminants: the fullerene example

• Published in: Water science and technology Vol. 57; no. 3; pp. 305 - 310
• Main Authors: Wiesner, M.R, Hotze, E.M, Brant, J.A, Espinasse, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England IWA Publishing 01-01-2008
• Subjects: Aqueous environments; colloids; Contaminants; dissolved oxygen; ecotoxicology; Environmental Pollutants - chemistry; Environmental Pollutants - toxicity; fullerene; Fullerenes; Fullerenes - chemistry; Fullerenes - toxicity; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; ionic strength; Macromolecular Substances - chemistry; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Organic Chemicals - chemistry; Organic matter; Osmolar Concentration; Oxygen - chemistry; particle size; physicochemical properties; pollutants; reactive oxygen species; Reactive Oxygen Species - chemistry; Risk; Risk assessment; Stability; Suspensions; Toxic hazards; Toxicity; Water - chemistry; water pollution
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.2166/wst.2008.800

An assessment of the potential risks posed by nanomaterials will require case-by-case evaluations of the processes controlling exposure and hazards such as toxicity. Factors that control fullerene transport and transformation in aqueous environments and their relationship to toxicity are discussed. Natural organic matter is observed to either increase or decrease nanoparticle stability while trends in reactive oxygen generation run counter to proposed mechanisms of possible fullerene toxicity.