Studies On The Toxicological Effects Of Engineered Nanoparticles In Environment - A Review

Abstract

This paper considers the standard ecotoxicity tests done so far for assessing the hazards of engineered nanoparticles and potential negative effects that engineered nanoparticles may have on environment. Research and development in nanotechnologies increase strongly and attract substantial funding, but environmental consequences of resulting materials and applications are poorly known. We prepared nanoparticles by continuous sonication and by ultra filtration. Artemia salina was differentiated to five life stages based on certain easily distinguished features and were exposed to different concentrations of Titanium Dioxide and Fullerene using 48 hours acute toxicity testing. Images of the particle solutions were recorded using TEM and the median lethal concentration was determined in each life stage. Exposure to sonicated nanoparticles shows varied mortalities in different stages of Artemia salina where as filtered solutions showed increasing mortality with increase in concentration. We conclude that uncontrolled and unobserved release of these nanoparticles either as byproducts or medical wastes, could have a large negative consequence on the aquatic and terrestrial organisms, particularly on the humans.