Potential health risk effects of silver nanoparticles on aquatic ecosystem: Regulations and guidelines

The increased production and application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) raise concerns about environmental exposure and potential health effects. This systematic review article provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge regarding impacts of AgNPs, applications, as well as their environmental impacts to aquatic ecosystem. Environmental behavior of AgNPs. The potential long-term effects of AgNPs exposure on aquatic ecosystems depends on the physicochemical properties. Mechanism of Toxicity by AgNPs on ecosystem was explored in details. Reported studies also highlight the various regulations or guidelines for testing and assessing the risks of AgNPs that showed long-term adverse toxic effects on aquatic organisms and ecosystems. Long-term health effects of exposure to AgNPs are unclear and required further studies for controlling these risks. More studies are needed to investigate bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of AgNPs in natural aquatic ecosystems as well as induced cytotoxicity. The collected data in this review article will help developing regulations and guidelines to limit release of AgNPs into the environment to protect marine ecosystems from potential risks and to develop strategies limited related health hazardous.