Curbing the Environmental Implications of Emerging Nano-Pollutants: Current Developments in Preventing Environmental Exposure Potential and Adverse Effects

Commercialization of nano-enabled products (NEPs) being products that contain engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) is rapidly increasing. Most NEPs in markets exhibit high likelihood of ENMs release into the aquatic environment where they may induce undesirable effects; current data suggests rising nanopollution driven by rising commercialization of NEPs. Thus, measures to reduce the environmental exposure and impact of ENMs are required across all lifecycle phases. Herein, two strategies are proposed: safer- and sustainable-by-design (SSbD) strategy and policy development at the international level for ENMs/NEPs’ environmental safety. The SSbD strategy seeks to balance the full exploitation of ENMs in NEPs while reducing their environmental exposure and impact at the design and manufacturing phase. This is achieved by integrating the knowledge of ENMs’ physicochemical properties, exposure, and risk and designing out (reducing) the unfavourable properties. For both strategies, the current knowledge, shortcomings, and recommendations for successful implementation are discussed. Overall, SSbD and policy development can play a significant role in curbing the aquatic environmental risks associated with ENMs/PR-ENMs. However, both strategies are still in infancy and require comprehensive research for further development and implementation at country and international levels.