Aquatic nanotoxicology: reference species and omics technologies

Abstract

Abstract Aquatic nanotoxicology focuses on the evaluation of the potential biological impact of nanomaterials on aquatic organisms and the issues of physical, chemical, biological transformation, and bioaccumulation of nanomaterials in aquatic media. This chapter aims to discuss the features and results of the application of different reference species such as bacteria, microalgae, bivalves, sea urchins, and fish in the risk assessment of nanoparticles (NPs). Among the different types of NPs, the current chapter discusses the aquatic toxicity studies of metal, metal-oxide, and carbon-based NPs. The second part of this work highlights the main principles and achievements of omics technologies and their application in aquatic nanotoxicology. A multiomics approach as a combination of transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic techniques is suggested as a good opportunity to establish the toxicity pathways activated in different organisms under the influence of NPs.