Antonia Praetoriuset al.fromETH Zurich,Switzerland,andChalmers University of Technology,Sweden,present aresearch agendain thisPerspective articleto maximiseeffective risk assessment of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in aquatic environments.
They consider thehuge complexityof the task ahead in their discussion,recommending that the main components of exposure are identified,theapproach is simplifiedand thatthe most environmentally relevant materials are prioritised.Their discussion involves:
- A simplified approach– grouping ENPs by size,product type,emission and fate
- Identifying external parametersthat effect exposure such as pH to give appropriate experimental conditions for assessment
- Modelling– ability to test different scenarios and predictions of emissions;fate and exposure;bottom-up and top-down approaches
- Combining modelling and experiments
They emphasisethe importance of a collaborative approachwith a feedback loop between modelling and experiments andconsensuson grouping and parameters.
ThisPerspectiveisfree to accessfor thenext 4 weeks*.Read the authors' vision for risk assessment of engineered nanoparticles now byclicking the link below:
Facing complexity through informed simplifications: a research agenda for aquatic exposure assessment of nanoparticles
Antonia Praetorius,Rickard Arvidsson,Sverker Molander and Martin Scheringer
DOI: 10.1039/C2EM30677H
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