Based on the variety of existing nanomaterials with numerous modifications, the effort of investigating environmental fate and effects will be tremendous. It wants to make a contribution to group nanomaterials. Therefore, the project aims to correlate physical-chemical data with ecotoxicological effects for selected nanomaterials and to define reference values. The report presents the development of concepts for grouping of nanomaterials with regard to their ecotoxicological effects with focus on aquatic ecotoxicity.
The project was structured into five steps. First, fourteen nanomaterials were selected according to pre-defined criteria. The selected NMs were different subtypes of Ag, ZnO, TiO2, CeO2 and Cu. In a second step, their physico-chemical properties were determined in water and in all test media. Based on the results hypotheses concerning the expected ecotoxicity were formulated (third step). In a fourth step, the selected NMs were tested in three ecotoxicological tests (acute aquatic toxicity with algae, daphnia and fish embryo according to OECD Test Guidelines No. 201, 202 and 236). Finally, the composition of a grouping concept based on nanomaterials physicochemical parameters which were identified as being relevant to the emergence of a toxic effect in aquatic organisms.
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