Predicting the environmental impact of nanosilver

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are incorporated into many consumer and medical products due to their antimicrobial properties; however, the potential environmental risks of AgNPs are yet to be fully understood. This mini-review aims to predict the environmental impact of AgNPs, thus supplementing previous reviews on this topic. To this end, the AgNP production, environmental release and fate, predicted environmental concentrations in surface water, sediment, and sludge-activated soil, as well as reported toxicity and proposed toxic mechanisms are discussed, focusing primarily on fish. Furthermore, knowledge gaps and recommendations for future research are addressed.

Keywords: Fate; Mechanisms; Nanosilver; Production; Release; Toxicity.