Predicted Releases of Engineered Nanomaterials: From
Global to Regional to Local
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Abstract
A key
question for industry, regulators, toxicologists, and risk
assessors working with nanomaterials is what relevant environmental
engineered nanomaterial (ENM) concentrations should be considered.
Answering this question requires ENM material flow estimates at the
local level. Using a life-cycle approach, global ENM production and
application data were used to estimate releases at global, regional,
national, and local levels. Local level emissions were then used to
estimate releases to water (direct and from wastewater treatment effluent),
soils (direct and from runoff and biosolids), and air (direct and
from incineration of ENM-containing products). Waste management data
for dozens of countries were used to estimate the flow of 10 major
ENMs through eight world regions. A national and local release example
was conducted with data from the United States, providing predicted
wastewater effluent concentrations for the San Francisco Bay area,
ranging from low nanograms per liter to micrograms per liter depending
on the ENM