The DOI matches its Crossref record; 212 of the 213 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Environmental transformations and ecological effects of iron-based nanoparticles
Abstract
The increasing application of iron-based nanoparticles (NPs), especially high concentrations of zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI), has raised concerns regarding their environmental behavior and potential ecological effects. In the environment, iron-based NPs undergo physical, chemical, and/or biological transformations as influenced by environmental factors such as pH, ions, dissolved oxygen, natural organic matter (NOM), and biotas. This review presents recent research advances on environmental transformations of iron-based NPs, and articulates their relationships with the observed toxicities. The type and extent of physical, chemical, and biological transformations, including aggregation, oxidation, and bio-reduction, depend on the properties of NPs and the receiving environment. Toxicities of iron-based NPs to bacteria, algae, fish, and plants are increasingly observed, which are evaluated with a particular focus on the underlying mechanisms. The toxicity of iron-based NPs is a function of their properties, tolerance of test organisms, and environmental conditions. Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species is considered as the primary toxic mechanism of iron-based NPs. Factors influencing the toxicity of iron-based NPs are addressed and environmental transformations play a significant role, for example, surface oxidation or coating by NOM generally lowers the toxicity of nZVI. Research gaps and future directions are suggested with an aim to boost concerted research efforts on environmental transformations and toxicity of iron-based NPs, e.g., toxicity studies of transformed NPs in field, expansion of toxicity endpoints, and roles of laden contaminants and surface coating. This review will enhance our understanding of potential risks of iron-based NPs and proper uses of environmentally benign NPs.
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Metadata
- Authors
- Lei, C., Sun, Y., Tsang, D. C. W., & Lin, D.
- Affiliations
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HK)
- Zhejiang University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Tsang, Daniel C.W.
- Lin, Daohui
- Venue
- Environmental Pollution
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-01
- Volume
- 232
- Pages
- 10-30
- ISSN
- 0269-7491 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2757854632
- Cited by
- 347
- References
- 213
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 55 · 2019: 52 · 2018: 19
- FWCI
- 2.81
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Environmental Pollution (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PolyU Institutional Research Archive (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) (submittedVersion)
- Rare & Special e-Zone (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- CMC
- National Key Research and Development Program of China (2017YFA0207003)
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (21525728, 21621005, 21337004, 21407121)
- Hong Kong Research Grants Council (PolyU 15222115)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Environmental remediation with nanomaterials
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Nanoparticles: synthesis and applications
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Keywords
- iron-based nanoparticles, nanoscale zero-valent iron, environmental transformation, nanoparticle toxicity, oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species, nanoparticle aggregation, surface oxidation, bioreduction, ecotoxicity, bacteria, algae, fish, plants, environmental risk assessment
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Ecology, Environment, Environmental Pollutants, Fishes, Ions, Iron, Oxidation-Reduction, Nanoparticles
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