Metallic Nanoparticles in Waterways Pose Risk of Biomagnification and Toxicity
A model called nanoBio was created to study how metallic engineered nanomaterials accumulate in freshwater ecosystems. The model looked at seven different species to see how these materials move through the food chain and if they become more concentrated in higher-level organisms. The study found that nTiO2 had the highest biomagnification potential in the top predator species. The release of metal ions from the nanomaterials could still be harmful even if the materials themselves dissolve. The model showed that uptake rates and assimilation efficiency were the most important factors affecting bioaccumulation. More research is needed to better understand how these materials behave in the environment and how they can impact ecosystems.