Voelker Doris, Schlich Karsten, Hohndorf Lars, Koch Wolfgang, Kuehnen Ute, Polleichtner Christian, Kussatz Carola, Hund-Rinke Kerstin
Federal Environment Agency Germany, Section IV 2.2, Wörlitzer Platz 1, 06844 Dessau-Rosslau, Germany.
Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Department of Ecotoxicology, Auf dem Aberg 1, 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany.
Environ Res. 2015 Jul;140:661-72. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2015.05.011. Epub 2015 Jun 12.
Based on the increased utilization of nanosilver (silver nanomaterials=AgNM) as antibacterial agent, there is the strong need to assess the potential environmental implication associated with its new application areas. In this study an exemplary environmental risk assessment (ERA) of AgNM applied in textiles was performed. Environmental exposure scenarios (via municipal sewage treatment plant (STP)) with wastewater supply from domestic homes) were developed for three different types of textiles equipped with AgNM. Based on these scenarios predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) were deduced for STPs and for the environmental compartments surface water, sediment as well as soil. These PECs were related to PNECs (predicted no effect concentrations). PNECs were deduced from results of ecotoxicity tests of a selected AgNM (NM-300K). Data on ecotoxicology were derived from various tests with activated sludge, cyanobacteria, algae, daphnids, fish, duckweed, macrophytes, chironomids, earthworms, terrestrial plants as well as soil microorganisms. Emission data for the AgNM NM-300K from textiles were derived from washing experiments. The performed ERA was based on the specifications defined in the ECHA Guidances on information requirements and chemical safety assessment. Based on the chosen scenarios and preconditions, no environmental risk of the AgNM NM-300K released from textiles was detected. Under conservative assumptions a risk quotient for surface water close to 1 indicated that the aquatic compartment may be affected by an increased emission of AgNM to the environment due to the high sensitivity of aquatic organisms to silver. Based on the successful retention of AgNM in the sewage sludge and the still ongoing continual application of sewage sludge on farmland it is recommended to introduce a threshold for total silver content in sewage sludge into the respective regulations. Regarding potential risk mitigation measures, it is emphasized to preferably directly introduce AgNM into the textile fiber since this will strongly minimize the release of AgNM during washing. If this is not possible due to technical limitations or other reasons, the introduction of a threshold level controlling the release of AgNM from textiles is suggested. It has to be noted that this study is a case study which is only valid for the investigated NM-300K and its potential application in textiles.
鉴于纳米银（银纳米材料=AgNM）作为抗菌剂的使用日益增加，迫切需要评估与其新应用领域相关的潜在环境影响。在本研究中，对应用于纺织品的AgNM进行了示例性环境风险评估（ERA）。针对三种不同类型的含AgNM纺织品，制定了环境暴露场景（通过城市污水处理厂（STP），废水来自家庭）。基于这些场景，推导了污水处理厂以及地表水、沉积物和土壤等环境介质的预测环境浓度（PEC）。这些PEC与预测无效应浓度（PNEC）相关。PNEC是根据所选AgNM（NM-300K）的生态毒性测试结果推导得出的。生态毒理学数据来自对活性污泥、蓝藻、藻类、水蚤、鱼类、浮萍、大型植物、摇蚊、蚯蚓、陆生植物以及土壤微生物的各种测试。纺织品中AgNM NM-300K的排放数据来自洗涤实验。所进行的ERA基于欧洲化学品管理局（ECHA）关于信息要求和化学品安全评估指南中规定的规范。基于所选场景和前提条件，未检测到纺织品中释放的AgNM NM-300K存在环境风险。在保守假设下，地表水的风险商接近1，这表明由于水生生物对银的高敏感性，AgNM向环境中的排放量增加可能会影响水生态系统。鉴于AgNM在污水污泥中成功保留，且污水污泥仍在持续用于农田，建议在相关法规中引入污水污泥中总银含量的阈值。关于潜在的风险缓解措施，强调最好将AgNM直接引入纺织纤维，因为这将极大地减少洗涤过程中AgNM的释放。如果由于技术限制或其他原因无法做到这一点，则建议引入控制纺织品中AgNM释放的阈值水平。必须指出的是，本研究是一个案例研究，仅对所研究的NM-300K及其在纺织品中的潜在应用有效。
