Nanomaterials in Surface Water and Sediments: Fate and Analytical Challenges

Abstract

Nanomaterials (NMs) present some interesting properties that may be tailored; for this reason, they are being used in different fields, which leads to their entry into the environment, whether by normal use or intentional delivery. Once in water and sediments, they undergo different transformations that might be difficult to predict. NMs are also difficult to characterize because the methods for this are recently developed. Currently, the most plausible approach is to combine separation and measurement techniques; one of the most versatile integrations is field-flow fractionation with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) or ICP optical emission spectrometry. In the same way, toxicity assays must be adapted to these emerging contaminants because they behave neither as chemical compounds nor their bulk counterparts, which produces different results. Nevertheless, several adverse effects of NMs exposure on organisms have been reported, including DNA damage, mortality, oxidative stress, and growth reduction. However, the majority of these studies utilized acute laboratory exposure, whereas in a real ecosystem, organisms are more likely to experience chronic exposure conditions to numerous NMs and a biomagnification effect should be expected through the trophic chain. Despite the lack of sufficient literature, the present review attempts to link various compartmentalization aspects of NMs, their physical properties, and their toxicity in surface water and sediments.