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HERO ID
1060396
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
New perspectives on nanomaterial aquatic ecotoxicity: production impacts exceed direct exposure impacts for carbon nanotoubes
Author(s)
Eckelman, MJ; Mauter, MS; Isaacs, JA; Elimelech, M
Year
2012
Is Peer Reviewed?
1
Journal
Environmental Science & Technology
ISSN:
0013-936X
EISSN:
1520-5851
Volume
46
Issue
5
Page Numbers
2902-2910
Language
English
PMID
22296240
DOI
10.1021/es203409a
Web of Science Id
WOS:000301023700056
Abstract
Environmental impacts due to engineered nanomaterials arise both from releases of the nanomaterials themselves as well as from their synthesis. In this work, we employ the USEtox model to quantify and compare aquatic ecotoxicity impacts over the life cycle of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). USEtox is an integrated multimedia fate, transport, and toxicity model covering large classes of organic and inorganic substances. This work evaluates the impacts of non-CNT emissions from three methods of synthesis (arc ablation, CVD, and HiPco), and compares these to the modeled ecotoxicity of CNTs released to the environment. Parameters for evaluating CNT ecotoxicity are bounded by a highly conservative "worst case" scenario and a "realistic" scenario that draws from existing literature on CNT fate, transport, and ecotoxicity. The results indicate that the ecotoxicity impacts of nanomaterial production processes are roughly equivalent to the ecotoxicity of CNT releases under the unrealistic worst case scenario, while exceeding the results of the realistic scenario by 3 orders of magnitude. Ecotoxicity from production processes is dominated by emissions of metals from electricity generation. Uncertainty exists for both production and release stages, and is modeled using a combination of Monte Carlo simulation and scenario analysis. The results of this analysis underscore the contributions of existing work on CNT fate and transport, as well as the importance of life cycle considerations in allocating time and resources toward research on mitigating the impacts of novel materials.
Tags
•
Nanoscale Carbon
All References Cited
External Review Draft
Product Life-Cycle
Transport and Fate
Impacts
Peer Reviewed Draft
Product Life Cycle
Priority Area: Ch.2 and Appendix C
Transport & Fate
Priority Area: Ch. 3 and Appendix D
Impacts
Priority Area: Ch. 5 and Appendix F
Final Case Study
Product Life Cycle
Priority Area: Ch.2 and Appendix C
Transport & Fate
Priority Area: Ch. 3 and Appendix D
Impacts
Priority Area: Ch. 5 and Appendix F
•
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