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Review
. 2024 Jul 15:12:1390099.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1390099. eCollection 2024.

Current research on ecotoxicity of metal-based nanoparticles: from exposure pathways, ecotoxicological effects to toxicity mechanisms

Fang Wang #  1 , Li Zhou #  2 , Dehong Mu  2 , Hui Zhang  2 , Gang Zhang  3 , Xiangming Huang  4 , Peizheng Xiong  2
Affiliations
Review

Current research on ecotoxicity of metal-based nanoparticles: from exposure pathways, ecotoxicological effects to toxicity mechanisms

Fang Wang et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Metal-based nanoparticles have garnered significant usage across industries, spanning catalysis, optoelectronics, and drug delivery, owing to their diverse applications. However, their potential ecological toxicity remains a crucial area of research interest. This paper offers a comprehensive review of recent advancements in studying the ecotoxicity of these nanoparticles, encompassing exposure pathways, toxic effects, and toxicity mechanisms. Furthermore, it delves into the challenges and future prospects in this research domain. While some progress has been made in addressing this issue, there is still a need for more comprehensive assessments to fully understand the implications of metal-based nanoparticles on the environment and human well-being.

Keywords: exposure pathway; metal-based NPs; review; toxic effects; toxicity mechanisms.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The schematic shows the ecotoxicity induced by metal-based NPs from the exposure pathways (grey), ecotoxicological effects (pink) to toxicity mechanisms (blue).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic representation of the transfer of metal-based NPs from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems (18). Copyright 2023, American chemical society.
Figure 3
Figure 3
A schematic diagram of the uptake and translocation of NPs in plants through foliar application or root exposure treatment (24). Copyright 2023, Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Short-term intake of TiO2 NPs induces mild colitis and exacerbates the development of ulcerative colitis (45). Copyright 2023, Springer Nature.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Schematic diagram of nano-silver toxicity in carp gills (60). Copyright 2021, Elsevier.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Images showing radish seedlings exposed to varying concentrations of different NPs (68). Copyright 2019, Springer Nature.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Diagram of the uptake of PbS NPs in plants (70). Copyright 2020, Elsevier.
Figure 8
Figure 8
A human biomonitoring method based on single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (90). Copyright 2023, Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study is jointly supported by funding from (1) the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52102340); (2) Xinglin Talent Program of Chengdu University of TCM (330023085); (3) Scientific Project of Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (No. 21ZL01); and (4) Sichuan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Project (2023MS300).

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