As it grows, the field of nano-ecotoxicology has been able to draw extensively on existing tools and techniques for assessing chemical risk. Within regulatory ecotoxicology, a key recognised requirement is to have standardised protocols available for toxicity testing. Such agreed protocols are vital because they ensure that studies conducted in different laboratories can be compared and can inform risk assessments for nanomaterial regulation under different jurisdictions. Standardised toxicity tests have also been developed to inform nanomaterial regulation. However, these standard test methods are often also used in more fundamental nanotoxicology research. Often these uses are entirely appropriate for the question under study. However, in other cases, limiting studies to standard species, test methods, and endpoints may lead researchers to miss key aspects and issues in eco-nanotoxicology that would be revealed by the use of nonstandard test systems. For example, a growing number of studies have assessed the responses of soil-dwelling species to nanomaterial exposure, recognising that soils are likely sinks for nanomaterials. These studies illustrate the importance of going beyond a standard set of species, soils, and endpoints to understand the toxicity effects of nanomaterials.
|