Ecotoxicity and Toxicity of Nanomaterials with Potential for Wastewater Treatment Applications

Nanotechnology holds the promise of develop new processes for wastewater treatment. However, it is important to understand what the possible impacts on the environment of NMs. This study joins all the information available about the toxicity and ecotoxicity of NMs to human cell lines and to terrestrial and aquatic biota. Terrestrial species seems more protected, since effects are being recorded for concentrations higher than those that could be expected in the environment. The soil matrix is apparently trapping and filtering NMs. Further studies should focus more on indirect effects in biological communities rather than only on effects at the individual level. Aquatic biota, mainly from freshwater ecosystems, seemed to be at higher risk, since dose effect concentrations recorded were remarkable lower, at least for some NMs. The toxic effects recorded on different culture lines, also give rise to serious concerns regarding the potential effects on human health. However, few data exists about environmental concentrations to support the calculation of risks to ecosystems and humans.