ABSTRACT
Water pollution is a global environmental issue and it can be ascribed to a series of factors that ultimately cause the release of toxic compounds in rivers and oceans, with serious consequences for aquatic wildlife. Although there is a growing interest in nanotechnological solutions for water pollution remediation, known as nanoremediation, fueled by significant economic investments worldwide, environmental and human risk assessment associated with the use of engineered nanomaterials or nanoparticles (ENM/Ps), is challenging and nanoremediation still considered an emerging technology. Nanoremediation has enormous benefits but only with appropriate strategies and solutions, allowing for reduction of uncertainties in terms of human and environmental risks and satisfaction of regulatory requirements, boosting of the circular economy, and supporting a fully effective expansion of the sector. This chapter discusses the following aspects: (i) ecosafety of ENMs obtained by an eco-design approach to be recognized as a priority feature; (ii) ecotoxicity testing to be more ecologically sound by including realistic exposure scenarios; (iii) research and innovation for greener, sustainable, and ecosafe ENMs to be widely supported with the aim of developing more sustainable and ecofriendly nanoremediation solutions.
