ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on anthropogenic nanomaterials, both metallic and carbon-based. Different nanomaterials behave in different ways depending on several factors including water chemistry as previously mentioned, but also the form of the nanomaterial to begin with, that is, silver/carbon/titanium/gold/copper/zinc, coatings, original size, and morphology. The processes nanometallic materials undergo in the receiving environment are extensive, complex. The development of in vitro methods such as piscine cell lines is desirable, which may prove problematic for nanomaterials. The challenges for ecotoxicologists are immense in the area of nanotoxicity. The dimensionality of nanomaterials refers to the number of dimensions outside that range. The ecotoxicity of nanoparticles, i.e., 0-D and 1-D, can be two-fold: toxicity as a result of the material itself and toxicity as a result of the morphology of the presentation of the material. Ecotoxicologists are trying to elucidate the ‘big picture’ of the ecotoxicity of nanoparticles.
