What Are the Key Steps in Ecotoxicological Assessments?
Ecotoxicological assessments typically involve several key steps:
Characterization of nanomaterials: Determining the physical and chemical properties of the nanomaterials, such as size, shape, surface charge, and composition. Exposure assessment: Estimating the levels of nanomaterials that organisms in the environment are likely to encounter. Toxicity testing: Conducting laboratory tests to observe the effects of nanomaterials on various organisms, ranging from bacteria to higher organisms like fish and plants. Risk assessment: Integrating data from characterization, exposure, and toxicity studies to estimate the potential environmental risks associated with nanomaterials.
