The interaction mechanisms of co-existing polybrominated diphenyl ethers and engineered nanoparticles in environmental waters: A critical review

Anwar Ul Haq Khan; Ravi Naidu; Raja Dharmarajan; Cheng Fang; Hokyong Shon; Zhaomin Dong; Yanju Liu

doi:10.1016/j.jes.2021.10.018

The interaction mechanisms of co-existing polybrominated diphenyl ethers and engineered nanoparticles in environmental waters: A critical review

J Environ Sci (China). 2023 Feb:124:227-252. doi: 10.1016/j.jes.2021.10.018. Epub 2022 Feb 2.

Authors

Anwar Ul Haq Khan¹, Ravi Naidu², Raja Dharmarajan³, Cheng Fang², Hokyong Shon⁴, Zhaomin Dong⁵, Yanju Liu⁶

Affiliations

¹ Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), College of Engineering Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), ATC Building, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. Electronic address: Anwar.khan@uon.edu.au.
² Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), College of Engineering Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), ATC Building, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
³ Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), ATC Building, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
⁴ School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), City Campus, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
⁵ School of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijging 100191, China.
⁶ Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), College of Engineering Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), ATC Building, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. Electronic address: Yanju.liu@newcastle.edu.au.

PMID: 36182134
DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2021.10.018

Abstract

This review focuses on the occurrence and interactions of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in water systems and the generation of highly complex compounds in the environment. The release of ENPs and BFRs (e.g. PBDEs) to aquatic environments during their usage and disposal are summarised together with their key interaction mechanisms. The major interaction mechanisms including electrostatic, van der Waals, hydrophobic, molecular bridging and steric, hydrogen and π-bonding, cation bridging and ligand exchange were identified. The presence of ENPs could influence the fate and behaviour of PBDEs through the interactions as well as induced reactions under certain conditions which increases the formation of complex compounds. The interaction leads to alteration of behaviour for PBDEs and their toxic effects to ecological receptors. The intermingled compound (ENPs-BFRs) would show different behaviour from the parental ENPs or BFRs, which are currently lack of investigation. This review provided insights on the interactions of ENPs and BFRs in artificial, environmental water systems and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which are important for a comprehensive risk assessment.

Keywords: Emerging contaminants (ECs); Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs); Interaction mechanisms; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs); Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Environmental Monitoring
Flame Retardants* / analysis
Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / analysis
Hydrocarbons, Brominated* / analysis
Hydrogen
Ligands
Nanoparticles*
Water

Substances

Flame Retardants
Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
Hydrocarbons, Brominated
Ligands
Water
Hydrogen