title: Metal-based nanoparticles in soil: fate, behavior, and effects on soil invertebrates.
abstract: Metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) (e.g., silver, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, iron oxide) are being widely used in the nanotechnology industry. Because of the release of particles from NP-containing products, it is likely that NPs will enter the soil compartment, especially through land application of sewage sludge derived from wastewater treatment. This review presents an overview of the literature dealing with the fate and effects of metal-based NPs in soil. In the environment, the characteristics of NPs (e.g., size, shape, surface charge) and soil (e.g., pH, ionic strength, organic matter, and clay content) will affect physical and chemical processes, resulting in NP dissolution, agglomeration, and aggregation. The behavior of NPs in soil will control their mobility and their bioavailability to soil organisms. Consequently, exposure characterization in ecotoxicological studies should obtain as much information as possible about dissolution, agglomeration, and aggregation processes. Comparing existing studies is a challenging task, because no standards exist for toxicity tests with NPs. In many cases, the reporting of associated characterization data is sparse, or missing, making it impossible to interpret and explain observed differences in results among studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and the Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paula S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Tourinho
authors.forename: Cornelis A M
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: van Gestel
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lofts
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Svendsen
authors.forename: Amadeu M V M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loureiro
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D006046:Gold / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000469:parasitology*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil; C009495:titanium dioxide; C000499:ferric oxide; D012834:Silver; D006046:Gold; D014025:Titanium; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D015034:Zinc Oxide