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SAFENANO's Top Environmental Papers

The following reading list details what we consider to be some of the most informative papers available relating to ecotoxicology, environmental fate & behaviour of nanomaterials. 

Our selections have been categorised to allow you access to those papers of most interest to your area. These will be updated regularly to ensure that we make the most up to date information available to our readers.

Further reports of relevance to this area in combination with other topics may be included in the Cross-cutting Reports list.


Ecotoxicology

Adams, L.K., Lyon, D.Y. and Alvarez, P.J.J. 2006, "Comparative eco-toxicity of nanoscale TiO2, SiO2, and ZnO water suspensions", Water Res., vol. 40, no. 19, pp. 3527-3532. 


Aruoja, V., Dubourguier, H.C., Kasemets, K. and Kahru, A. 2008, "Toxicity of nanoparticles of CuO, ZnO and TiO2 to microalgae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata", Science of the Total Environment, vol. 407, no. 4, pp. 1461-1468.


Baun, A., Hartmann, N.B, Greiger, K.D., Hansen, S.F. 2009, "Setting the Limits for Engineered Nanoparticles in European Surface Waters," Journal of Environmental Monitoring, vol. 11, pp. 1774 – 1781.

Baun, A., Hartmann, N.B., Grieger, K.,  Kusk, K.O. 2008, "Ecotoxicity of engineered nanoparticles to aquatic invertebrates – a brief review and recommendations for future toxicity testing," Ecotoxicology, vol. 17, no. 5, pp. 387-395. 


Baun, A., Sorensen, S.N., Rasmussen, R.F., Hartmann, N.B. and Koch, C.B. 2008, "Toxicity and bioaccumulation of xenobiotic organic compounds in the presence of aqueous suspensions of aggregates of nano-C(60)", Aquat.Toxicol., vol. 86, no. 3, pp. 379-387. 


Cheng, J.P., Flahaut, E. and Cheng, S.H. 2007, "Effect of carbon nanotubes on developing zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos", Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 708-716. 


Choi, O., Deng, K.K., Kim, N.J., Ross, L., Surampalli, R.Y. and Hu, Z.Q. 2008, "The inhibitory effects of silver nanoparticles, silver ions, and silver chloride colloids on microbial growth", Water Res., vol. 42, no. 12, pp. 3066-3074. 


Federici, G., Shaw, B.J. and Handy, R.D. 2007, "Toxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): Gill injury, oxidative stress, and other physiological effects", Aquatic Toxicology, vol. 84, pp. 415-430. 


Griffitt, R.J., Luo, J., Gao, J., Bonzongo, J.C. and Barber, D.S. 2008, "Effects of particle composition and species on toxicity of metallic nanomaterials in aquatic organisms", Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, vol. 27, no. 9, pp. 1972-1978. 


Griffitt, R.J., Weil, R., Hyndman, K.A., Denslow, N.D., Powers, K., Taylor, D. and Barber, D.S. 2007, "Exposure to copper nanoparticles causes gill injury and acute lethality in zebrafish (Danio rerio)", Environ.Sci.Technol., vol. 41, no. 23, pp. 8178-8186. 


Hartmann, N.B. & Baun, A. 2010, "The nano cocktail – ecotoxicological effects of engineered nanoparticles in chemical mixtures," Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 311-313. 


Hartmann, N.B., Von der Kammer, F., Hofmann, T., Baalousha, M.,  Ottofuelling, S., Baun, A., 2010. "Algal testing of titanium dioxide nanoparticles—Testing considerations, inhibitory effects and modification of cadmium bioavailability," Toxicology, vol. 269, pp. 190–197.


Heinlaan, M., Ivask, A., Blinova, I., Dubourguier, H.C. and Kahru, A. 2008, "Toxicity of nanosized and bulk ZnO, CuO and TiO2 to bacteria Vibrio fischeri and crustacean Daphnia magna and Thamnocephalus platyurus", Chemosphere, vol. 71, no. 7, pp. 1308-1316. 


Henry, T.B., Menn, F.M., Fleming, J.T., Wilgus, J., Compton, R.N., Sayler, G.S. 2007, "Attributing effects of aqueous C60 nano-aggregates to tetrahydrofuran decomposition products in larval zebrafish by assessment of gene expression," Environ Health Perspect., vol. 115, no. 7, pp. 1059-65.


Hull, M.S., Kennedy, A.J., Steevens, J.A., Bednar, A.J., Weiss, C.A.,Jr & Vikesland, P.J. 2009, "Release of metal impurities from carbon nanomaterials influences aquatic toxicity", Environmental science & technology, vol. 43, no. 11, pp. 4169-4174. 


Hund-Rinke, K. and Simon, M. 2006, "Ecotoxic effect of photocatalytic active nanoparticles (TiO2) on algae and daphnids", Environ.Sci.Pollut.Res.Int., vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 225-232.


Johansen, A., Pedersen, A., Karlson, U., Hansen, B.M., Scott-Fordsmand, J. and Winding, A. 2008, "Effects of C60 fullerene nanoparticles on soil bacteria and protozoans", Environ.Toxicol.Chem, vol. 27, no. 9, pp. 1895–1903.


Kim, K.T., Klaine, S.J., Cho, J., Kim, S.H. & Kim, S.D. 2010, "Oxidative stress responses of Daphnia magna exposed to TiO2 nanoparticles according to size fraction", The Science of the total environment, vol. 408, no. 10, pp. 2268-2272.


Lee, W.M., An, Y.J., Yoon, H., Kweon, H.S. 2008, "Toxicity and bioavailability of copper nanoparticles to the terrestrial plants mung bean (Phaseolus radiatus) and wheat (Triticum aestivum): plant agar test for water-insoluble nanoparticles," Environ. Toxicol. Chem., vol. 27, no. 9, pp. 1915–1921.


Lin, D.H. and Xing, B.S. 2008, "Root uptake and phytotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles", Environ.Sci.Technol., vol. 42, no. 15, pp. 5580-5585.


Lovern, S. B., Klaper, R. 2006, "Daphnia Magna mortality when exposed to titanium dioxide and fullerene (C60) nanoparticles," Environ Toxicol Chem, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 1132-1137.


Lovern, S. B., Strickler, J. R., Klaper, R. 2007, "Behavioral and Physiological Changes in Daphnia magna when Exposed to Nanoparticle Suspensions (Titanium Dioxide, Nano-C60, and C60HxC70Hx)," Environ Sci Technol, vol. 41, no. 12, pp. 4465-4470.


Navarro, E., Piccapietra, F., Wagner, B., Marconi, F., Kaegi, R., Odzak, N., Sigg, L. & Behra, R. 2008, "Toxicity of Silver Nanoparticles to Chlamydomonas reinhardtii," Environ. Sci. Technol., vol. 42, no. 23, pp. 8959–8964. 


Oberdorster, E. 2004, "Manufactured nanomaterials (Fullerenes, C-60) induce oxidative stress in the brain of juvenile largemouth bass", Environ.Health Perspect. vol. 112, no. 10, pp. 1058-1062.


Oberdorster, E., Zhu, S.Q., Blickley, T.M., McClellan-Green, P. and Haasch, M.L. 2006, "Ecotoxicology of carbon-based engineered nanoparticles: Effects of fullerene (C-60) on aquatic organisms", Carbon, vol. 44, no. 6, pp. 1112-1120. 


Petersen, E.J., Akkanen, J., Kukkonen, J.V. & Weber, W.J., Jr. 2009, "Biological uptake and depuration of carbon nanotubes by Daphnia magna", Environmental science & technology, vol. 43, no. 8, pp. 2969-2975. 


Roberts, A.P., Mount, A.S., Seda, B., Souther, J., Qiao, R., Lin, S., Ke, P. C., Rao, A.M., Klaine, S. J. 2007, "In vivo Biomodification of Lipid-Coated Carbon Nanotubes by Daphnia magna," Environ Sci Technol, vol. 41, no. 8, pp. 3025-3029.


Scott-Fordsmand, J.J., Krogh, P.H., Schaefer, M. and Johansen, A. 2008, "The toxicity testing of double-walled nanotubes-contaminated food to Eisenia veneta earthworms", Ecotoxicol.Environ.Saf., vol. 71, no. 3, pp. 616-619. 


Templeton, R.C., Ferguson, P.L., Washburn, K.M., Scrivens, W.A. and Chandler, G.T. 2006, "Life-cycle effects of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on an estuarine meiobenthic copepod", Environ.Sci.Technol., vol. 40, no. 23, pp. 7387-7393. 


Wang J., Zhang X., Chen Y., Sommerfield M. and Hu, Q. 2008, "Toxicity assessment of manufactured nanomaterials using the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.", Chemosphere, vol. 73, no. 7, pp. 1121-8. 


Zhu, S.Q., Oberdorster, E. and Haasch, M.L. 2006, "Toxicity of an engineered nanoparticle (fullerene, C-60) in two aquatic species, Daphnia and fathead minnow", Mar.Environ.Res., vol. 62, pp. S5-S9. 


Zhu, X.S., Chang, Y. & Chen, Y.S. 2010, "Toxicity and bioaccumulation of TiO2 nanoparticle aggregates in Daphnia magna", Chemosphere, vol. 78, no. 3, pp. V-215. 

Zhu, X.S., Zhu, L., Duan, Z.H., Qi, R.Q., Li, Y. and Lang, Y.P. 2008, "Comparative toxicity of several metal oxide nanoparticle aqueous suspensions to Zebrafish (Danio rerio) early developmental stage", Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A-Toxic/hazardous Substances and Environmental Engineering, vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 278-284. 


Zhu, X.S., Zhu, L., Lang, Y.P. and Chen, Y.S. 2008, "Oxidative stress and growth inhibition in the freshwater fish Carassius auratus induced by chronic exposure to sublethal fullerene aggregates", Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, vol. 27, no. 9, pp. 1979-1985.


Zhu, Y., Zhao, Q.F., Li, Y.G., Cai, X.Q. and Li, W. 2006, "The interaction and toxicity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes with Stylonychia mytilus", Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, vol. 6, no. 5, pp. 1357-1364.

Relating Physico-chemical Characteristics to Ecotoxicity

Kang, S., Mauter, M.S. and Elimelech, M. 2008, "Physicochemical determinants of multiwalled carbon nanotube bacterial cytotoxicity", Environ.Sci.Technol., vol. 42, no. 19, pp. 7528-7534. 


Simon-Deckers, A., Loo, S., Mayne-L'Hermite, M., Herlin-Boime, N., Menguy, N., Reynaud, C., Gouget, B. & Carriere, M. 2009, "Size-, Composition- and Shape-Dependent Toxicological Impact of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles and Carbon Nanotubes toward Bacteria", Environmental science & technology, vol. 43, no. 21, pp. 8423-8429.

Environmental Fate & Behaviour

Baalousha, M. 2009, "Aggregation and disaggregation of iron oxide nanoparticles: Influence of particle concentration, pH and natural organic matter", Science of the Total Environment, vol. 407, no. 6, pp. 2093-2101.


Benn, T.M. and Westerhoff, P. 2008, "Nanoparticle silver released into water from commercially available sock fabrics", Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 42, no. 11, pp. 4133-4139.


Boncagni, N.T., Otaegui, J.M., Warner, E., Curran, T., Ren, J. & de Cortalezzi, M.M. 2009, "Exchange of TiO2 nanoparticles between streams and streambeds", Environmental science & technology, vol. 43, no. 20, pp. 7699-7705.
  

Chen, Z., Westerhoff, P. and Herckes, P. 2008, "Quantification of C60 fullerene concentrations in water", Environ Toxicol Chem, vol. 27, pp. 1852-9.


Darlington, T.K., Neigh, A.M., Spencer, M.T., Nguyen, O.T. and Oldenburg, S.J. 2009, "Nanoparticle characteristics affecting environmental fate and transport through soil", Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, vol. 28, no. 6, pp. 1191–1199. 


Doshi, R., Braida, W., Christodoulatos, C., Wazne, M. and O'Connor, G. 2008, "Nano-aluminium: Transport through sand columns and environmental effects on plants and soil communities", Environmental Research, vol. 106, no. 3, pp. 296-303. 


Gao, J., Youn, S., Hovsepyan, A., Vernica, L.L., Wang, Y., Bitton, G. and Bonzongo, J.J. 2009, "Dispersion and Toxicity of Selected Manufactured Nanomaterials in Natural River Water Samples: Effects of Water Chemical Composition", Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 43, no. 9, pp. 3322-3328. 


Ghosh, S., Mashayekhi, H., Pan, B., Bhowmik, P. and Xing, B. 2008, "Colloidal Behaviour of Aluminium Oxide Nanoparticles As Affected by pH and Natural Organic Matter", Langmuir, vol. 24, no. 21, pp. 12385-12391. 


Han, Z., Zhang, F., Lin, D. and Xing, B. 2008, "Clay Minerals Affect the Stability of Surfactant-Facilitated Carbon Nanotube Suspensions", Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 42, no. 18, pp. 6869-6875. 


He, F., Zhang, M., Qian, T., Zhao, D. 2009, "Transport of carboxymethyl cellulose stabilized iron nanoparticles in porous media: Column experiments and modelling," Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, vol. 334, pp. 96–102. 


Jaisi, D.P. & Elimelech, M. 2009, "Single-walled carbon nanotubes exhibit limited transport in soil columns", Environmental science & technology, vol. 43, no. 24, pp. 9161-9166. 


Jaisi, D.P., Saleh, N,B., Blake, R.E. and Elimelech, M. 2008, "Transport of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Porous Media: Filtration Mechanisms and Reversibility", Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 42, no. 22, pp. 8317–8323. 


Jarvie, H.P., Al-Obaidi, H., King, S.M., Bowes, M.J., Lawrence, M.J., Drake, A.F., Green, M.A. & Dobson, P.J. 2009, "Fate of Silica Nanoparticles in Simulated Primary Wastewater Treatment", Environmental science & technology, vol. 43, no. 22, pp. 8622-8628. 


Kaegi, R., Ulrich, A., Sinnet, B., Vonbank, R., Wichser, A., Zuleeg, S., Simmler, H., Brunner, S., Vonmont, H., Burkhardt, M. and Boller, M., 2008, "Synthetic TiO2 nanoparticle emission from exterior facades into the aquatic environment", Environmental Pollution, vol. 156, pp. 233–239.
  

Kennedy, A.J., Hull, M.S., Steevens, J.A., Dontsova, K.M., Chappell, M.A., Gunter, J.C., et al. 2008, "Factors influencing the partitioning and toxicity of nanotubes in the aquatic environment", Enviromental Toxicology and Chemistry, vol. 27, pp. 1932-41. 


Lecoanet, H.F., Bottero, J-Y., and Wiesner, M.R. 2004, "Laboratory Assessment of the Mobility of Nanomaterials in Porous Media", Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 38, no. 19, pp. 5164-5169. 


Lecoanet, H.F. and Wiesner, M.R. 2004, "Velocity effects on fullerene and oxide nanoparticle deposition in porous media", Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 38, no. 16, pp. 4377-82. 


Li, D., Lyon, D.Y., Li, Q, Alvarez, P.J.J. 2008, "Effect of soil sorption and aquatic natural organic matter on the Antibacterial activity of a fullerene water suspension," Environ. Toxicol. Chem., vol. 27, no. 9, 1888–1894. 


Li, Q., Xie, B., Hwang, Y.S. & Xu, Y. 2009, "Kinetics of C60 fullerene dispersion in water enhanced by natural organic matter and sunlight", Environmental science & technology, vol. 43, no. 10, pp. 3574-3579. 
 

Li, Y., Wang, Y., Pennell, K.D., and Abriola, L.M. 2008, "Investigation of the transport and deposition of fullerene (C60) nanoparticles in quartz sands under varying flow conditions", Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 42, no. 19, pp. 7174-80. 


Limbach, L.K., Bereiter, R., Műller, E., Krebs, R., Gälli, R., Stark, W.J. 2008, "Removal of Oxide Nanoparticles in a Model Wastewater Treatment Plant: Influence of Agglomeration and Surfactants on Clearing Efficiency", Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 42, no. 15, pp. 5828-5833.


Mackay, C.s E. and Henry, K.M. 2009, "Environmental Fate and Transport", in Nanotechnology and the Environment, eds. Sellers et al. CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, LLC., USA. 


Saleh, N.B., Pfefferle, L.D. and Elimelech, M. 2008, "Aggregation kinetics of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in aquatic systems: measurements and environmental implications", Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 42, pp. 7963-9. 
Link to abstract  


Schrick, B., Hydutsky, B.W., Blough, J.L. and Mallouk, T.E. 2004, "Delivery Vehicles for Zerovalent Metal Nanoparticles in Soil and Groundwater", Chemistry of Materials, vol. 16, no. 11, pp. 2187-2193.


Seeger, E.M, Baun, A., Kästner, M., Trapp, S. 2009, "Insignificant acute toxicity of TiO2 nanoparticles to willow trees," J. Soils Sed., vol. 9, pp. 46-53.


Van Hoecke, K., Quik, J.T.K., Mankiewicz-Boczek, J., De Schamphelaere, K.A.C., Elsaesser, A., Van der Meeren, P., Barnes, C., McKerr, G., Howard, C.V., Van De Meent, D., Rydzynski, K., Dawson, K.A., Salvati, A., Lesniak, A., Lynch, I., Silversmit, G., De Samber, B., Vincze, L. & Janssen, C.R. 2009, "Fate and Effects of CeO2 Nanoparticles in Aquatic Ecotoxicity Tests", Environmental science & technology, vol. 43, no. 12, pp. 4537-4546.


Zhang, X., Sun, H., Zhang, Z., Niu, Q., Chen, Y., Crittenden, J.C. 2007, "Enhanced bioaccumulation of cadmium in carp in the presence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles," Chemosphere, vol.  67, pp. 160-166. 


Zhang, Y., Chen, Y., Westerhoff, P. & Crittenden, J. 2009, "Impact of natural organic matter and divalent cations on the stability of aqueous nanoparticles", Water research, vol. 43, no. 17, pp. 4249-4257. 


Zhang, Y., Chen, Y., Westerhoff, P., Hristovski, K. and Crittenden, J.C. 2008, "Stability of commercial metal oxide nanoparticles in water", Water Research, vol. 42, no. 8-9, pp. 2204-2212. 


Zhu, H., Han, J., Xiao, J.Q. and Jin, Y. 2008, "Uptake, translocation, and accumulation of manufactured iron oxide nanoparticles by pumpkin plants", Journal of Environmental Monitoring, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 713-717. 

Relating physico-chemical characteristics with environmental fate & behaviour


Darlington, T.K., Neigh, A.M., Spencer, M.T., Nguyen, O.T. and Oldenburg, S.J. 2009, "Nanoparticle characteristics affecting environmental fate and transport through soil", Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, vol. 28, no. 6, pp. 1191–1199.


Hassellöv M. and Kaegi, R. 2009, "Analysis and Characterization of Manufactured Nanoparticles in Aquatic Environments," In: Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: Environmental and human health implications. (Eds. Lead J.R. and Smith E.) Wiley 2009, p. 211-266.


Hassellöv, M., Readman, J., Ranville, J. and Tiede, K. 2008, "Nanoparticle analysis and characterization methodology in environmental risk assessment of engineered nanoparticles," Ecotoxicology, vol. 17, pp. 344–361.

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