Environ Toxicol Chem. 2022 Feb 21. doi: 10.1002/etc.5312. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Understanding the bioaccumulation of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) is essential for regulatory decisions on potential environmental risks. Research in the field of ENMs bioaccumulation has increased in recent years, but the compilation and statistical analysis of the available experimental data has not been updated. We therefore performed a meta-analysis of the existing literature on the bioaccumulation of eight types of non-dissolvable ENMs (TiO2 , Al2 O3 , Au, C60 , fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, FeOx , graphene, polystyrene) in non-mammalian freshwater aquatic organisms across three trophic levels including phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish. Three typical endpoints were used to assess the bioaccumulation potential: the bioconcentration factor (BCF), the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and the biomagnification factor (BMF). Our results suggest that zooplankton has greater mean logarithmic BCF and BAF values than phytoplankton (3.31 vs. 1.42) and fish (2.04). ENMs are biomagnified in zooplankton with a mean BMF of 17.4 whereas trophic transfer from primary consumers (zooplankton) to secondary consumers (fish) is not observed (mean BMF of 0.13). No clear dependency was identified between the physico-chemical characteristics of ENMs (e.g. primary particle size, zeta potential, or shape) and bioaccumulation, except for coated vs. uncoated particles accumulated in phytoplankton. Carbonaceous ENMs were found to be more bioaccumulated than the other considered ENMs, except TiO2 . The meta-analysis of bioaccumulation data can i) deepen the understanding of bioconcentration, bioaccumulation and biomagnification of ENMs, ii) be used to support grouping strategies as a basis for a safer-by-design approach for ENMs, iii) be integrated into comprehensive hazard and risk assessments, iv) promote the standardization of testing guidelines, and v) enhance the future kinetic bioaccumulation modelling. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. © 2022 SETAC.
PMID:35188281 | DOI:10.1002/etc.5312
