Current Knowledge on Nanotoxicology on Ants: A Review

Significant technological advancements in many fields of human life led to the release of new substances into the environment-emerging pollutants. This term includes nanomaterials. Despite numerous investigations into their impact across various models, there remains a significant knowledge gap regarding certain groups of organisms. One such group is social insects, which include ants, bees and termites. In particular, current knowledge of the effects of nanoxenobiotics on ants is limited. We aimed to compile existing data to underscore significant knowledge gaps and propose topics for future research. In this review, nanotoxicology research on ants was systematically evaluated based on 59 articles sourced from reputable journals using databases (Google Scholar and Scopus) and 2 OECD guidelines. This article also presents insights into the ecological role of ants, highlighting the importance of investigating the effects of nanoparticles on these organisms. It further outlines key aspects of toxicity research, which may be valuable for designing studies on the toxicity of nanoxenobiotics in ants.