Nano fertilizers are gaining attention for enhancing agricultural production by increasing the nutrient use efficiency and reducing environmental pollution. While the previous reports suggesting these are all based on various indirect parameters like physiological and biochemical indicators which may not fully capture the actual nutrient uptake, assimilation and translocation. To address the research gap, an experiment was conducted using stable isotopes of nitrogen(N) in maize to trace the uptake, assimilation and translocation of foliar applied nano urea (IFFCO Nano Urea Plus) compared with foliar applied conventional urea. Plant samples (leaf, shoot and root) were collected at different time intervals: Initial, 1st,2nd,6th hours, 1st, 2nd, 7th & 14th days after application of various treatments. The tracing of N was done, using Laser Ablation-Combustion-Gas Chromatography-High Resolution Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (LA-CGC-HR-IRMS), for uptake and translocation, while leaf urease activity was assessed for nitrogen assimilation pattern. Physiological parameters like Chlorophyll content (Soil Plant Analysis Development, SPAD value) and chlorophyll fluorescence (effective quantum yield Y(II) and maximum quantum efficiency Fv/fm) also studied alongside. The results showed that plants treated with nano urea had higher total percent nitrogen derived from foliar fertilization (%Ndff) (0.43 %) than conventional urea (0.36 %) at 14th day. Nano urea had faster absorption of 92.5 % in just 2 days while the conventional urea has 75.9 % at same time. The urease activity peaked at 3.123 μmol NH/min/g FW for nano urea, compared to 2.141 for conventional urea and 0.177 for the control. The SPAD and chlorophyll fluorescence values also improved with nano urea on 7th day. This study provides first direct quantifiable, isotopic evidence that foliar-applied nano urea is more efficiently absorbed, assimilated and translocated than equimolar conventional urea, offering a mechanistic understanding of enhanced performance in maize.

Tire particles and their associated leachates represent emerging microplastic pollution of growing concern. The accumulation of tire-derived pollutants beside road agricultural systems remains poorly characterized, yet species-specific responses to these pollutants also remain poorly understood. This study investigated the differential impacts of tire particles and tire leachate on germination, plant growth, photosynthetic function, and oxidative stress response in two ecologically important crops. Mung bean (Vigna radiata) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) were exposed to tire particles (0.1, 1, and 10 g/kg) and tire leachate (10 %, 20 % and 30 %) in soil medium under controlled greenhouse conditions. The tomato plant exhibited superior resistance, mounting a robust, induced superoxide dismutase (SOD) response that successfully mitigated systemic stress and maintained growth. Tire leachate exposure in mung beans causes high Molondialdegyde (MDA) accumulation and significant chlorophyll degradation. This damage coincided with the signifying failure of the antioxidant defense system. Tire-leachate significantly alters soil dynamics, increasing available nitrogen in mung bean soil while causing phosphorus immobilization in tomato soil, demonstrating complex tire-derived contaminant soil-plant interactions. Principal components analysis (PCA) shows a distinct metabolic fingerprint for each treatment, inducing fundamental biochemical reorganization in both species. This study demonstrates that tire contamination effects are highly species-dependent, with mung bean roots being sensitive and inhibition, while tomato growth remained stable, despite clear internal stress. The findings highlight that the highly bioavailable leachate fraction poses the most acute threat to plant health and underscore the critical need for species-specific risk assessment for tire-derived contamination.

Titanium dioxide is a white pigment used in products such as foods and pharmaceuticals. Limitations exist in our understanding of titanium dioxide (TiO) oral exposure by adults and whether chronic exposure impacts gut health. The aims of this study were to estimate oral exposure of TiO by quantifying stool content, and determine its association with the gut microbiome, intestinal permeability, and gut inflammation among healthy adults. This longitudinal analysis included stool collection at three time points from adults (18-30 y). TiO concentration in stool was measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Gut microbiota were assessed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Microbiome Multivariate Association with Linear Models (MaAsLin2) identified gut microbiota associated with stool TiO. Intestinal inflammation was assessed from stool concentrations of calprotectin, lactoferrin, and myeloperoxidase and gut permeability from alpha-1-antitrypsin using enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assays. Dietary intake was assessed from three 24-h dietary recalls. Differences in intestinal biomarkers between high and low TiO2 groups (stratified at median, 0.22 μg/mg stool) were tested by student's t-test, and across quartiles of TiO2 by ANCOVA. Beta diversity showed clustering between the lowest and highest quartiles of TiO, P < 0.02. Thirteen microbial taxa were differentially abundant in any of the quartiles of TiO compared to the lowest. No differences in biomarkers of gut health were detected following adjustment. In healthy adults, higher stool TiO2 concentration is related to gut dysbiosis, but not to higher levels of gut inflammation nor permeability. Future studies should evaluate TiO2 in the stool of adults with impaired gut health.

As a global pollutant, microplastics (MPs) are widely distributed in the natural environment and human tissues, and their potential threat to female reproductive health has gradually become an important issue in the field of public health. The distribution, health effects and toxic mechanisms of MPs in female reproductive system were reviewed in this paper. MPs can penetrate the placental barrier, interfere with fetal development, and increase the risk of pregnancy complications. In ovaries, MPs induce granulosa cell apoptosis and disrupt follicular development, leading to hormonal imbalance and decreased fertility. In utero, the accumulation of MPs can cause endometrial inflammation and reduced receptivity, significantly inhibiting embryo implantation. This study provides a scientific basis for revealing the female reproductive toxicity of MPs, and has important reference value for formulating environmental health standards and improving female reproductive health protection strategies.

Vanadium-containing compounds and materials are widely used in industry, unavoidably leading to environmental contamination. Whether other pollutants released into the environment, e.g. the star material graphene oxide (GO), affect the threat that vanadium poses to human health is still unknown. This study investigated the combined toxicity of vanadium ions and GO of different sizes (S-GO: ∼229 nm; L-GO: ∼1082 nm) to A549 cells. Exposure to vanadium ions (0-400 μM) for 24 h caused a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability, where V(V) was more toxic than V(IV). The toxicity of vanadium was manifested as impaired proliferation and cell death. Vanadium toxicity was attributed to the overproduction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), the cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, mitochondrial dysfunction, decreased intracellular ATP and the apoptosis. Importantly, co-exposure to vanadium ions and different-sized GO (200 μg·mL) resulted in distinct effects: S-GO and vanadium ions displayed the synergistic toxicity, whereas L-GO and vanadium ions exhibited an antagonistic effect. Co-exposure to vanadium ions and S-GO caused more severe cell damage, which was associated with a significant increase in vanadium uptake. In contrast, L-GO adhered to the cell surface and reduced vanadium uptake, alleviating vanadium toxicity. The results collectively indicated that vanadium pollutants might interact with other contaminants to alter the environmental safety.

The ubiquitous presence of nanoplastics (NP) in the environment has emerged as a global concern. Their impacts have been mostly studied in aquatic ecosystems and species, and more recently, in terrestrial species. In addition, the toxicity of NP on organisms exposed continuously to this pollutant and over multiple generations remains poorly considered. Our study focused on the effects of chronic exposure of a polydisperse mix of polystyrene NP (20, 80, and 200 nm) on the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to four NP concentrations (0, 1, 100, and 500 μg NP.g of food) over 10 generations. Their toxicity was assessed at the first (F1) and tenth (F10) generations by evaluating phenotypic (viability, development time, body size and body weight) and physiological responses, through enzyme activities related to oxidative stress and the expression of specific target genes (e.g. apoptosis, immunity). Our results showed a decrease in organisms' key traits in the first and tenth generations, with a reduced viability and body size. Additionally, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was altered, with a decrease observed in the F1 generation, followed by an increase in F10, in flies exposed to 500 μg NP.g. Finally, the expressions of target genes involved in apoptosis and immune responses were either up- or down-regulated, depending on the generation. These results highlighted the effects NP can have on life-history or physiological traits without higher effect across generations. In addition, the study reveals the complex response across generation and highlights the importance to study long-term exposure.

Occupational risk assessment of manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) requires targeted hazard and exposure quantification, which, however, are currently limited by uncertainties about measurements and metrics. Integrated approaches to testing and assessment (IATAs) emerge as efficient tools to streamline the risk assessment of MNMs. This study formulates an Occupational Hazard IATA (OH IATA) to identify and quantify the hazard of involuntarily inhaled MNMs in workplaces. Following general IATA guidance, key toxicity events (KTEs) relevant to inhaled MNMs, such as deposition, accumulation, local or systemic inflammation, and genotoxicity, were identified and incorporated into decision nodes (DNs) within the OH IATA framework. The OH IATA is structured as a decision tree enabling tiered testing strategies, from in vitro to in vivo, to generate evidence addressing the DNs. Hazard profiles are categorized into bands labeled from A (no risk) to E (serious hazard), following ISO control banding principles and including new criteria focusing on key physicochemical descriptors like deposition and dissolution in synthetic biological fluids. The OH IATA was evaluated using industrial case studies such as few-layer graphene (FLG) and graphene oxide (GO), applying a hybrid data-gathering approach that combines next-generation and literature-based data. The results demonstrated that OH IATA successfully assigned hazard bands to the tested MNMs and supported the identification of appropriate control measures. Innovative methods, such as in vitro dissolution quantification in simulant fluids, contributed to the high predictivity of the hazard assessment. The OH IATA, integrated with multiparametric exposure testing within the broader "Prevention-through-Design, NanoKey" framework, provides a targeted, data-driven strategy for the assessment and prevention of risks associated with inhaled MNMs in occupational settings. This approach enhances workplace safety, supports regulatory compliance, and promotes long-term sustainability in nanomaterial-based industries.

Titanium dioxide (TiO) has recently gained attention after the European Union banned its use as a food additive, due to a concern for potential genotoxicity of TiO particles that cannot be ruled out. Thus, particle size distribution and other physicochemical properties were a crucial part of TiO's safety evaluation. This study compares the physicochemical properties of TiO used to color food in the US (i.e. TiO color additive) with those similar to Unitane® O220 grade TiO samples used in a 2-year oral carcinogenicity study. A combination of various analytical techniques (dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy) and different sample preparation methods (shaking and sonication of the aqueous dispersions) were used for the characterization. Although differences in particle size distributions based on DLS analysis were observed between the shaken Unitane ® O220 samples and the shaken TiO color additive, no distinct differences were found in sonicated samples. Regardless of the sample type and sample preparation method, TEM image analysis revealed the minimum particle size ranges from 14 nm to 73 nm and the maximum particle size ranges from 292 nm to 704 nm. SEM analysis showed similarity in the morphology of all the samples, although elemental impurities were observed in the Unitane ® O220 samples. Raman spectroscopic analysis revealed all TiO samples were in anatase form. A pH-dependent zeta potential analysis showed similarities among TiO color additives and one of the Unitane® O220 samples. Despite some differences, the physicochemical properties of all TiO samples were comparable. These results fill existing knowledge gaps regarding the presence of nanoparticles in TiO color additive, guiding regulatory decisions and safety evaluations.

Although cumulative evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies indicates that micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) can induce toxic effects, and MNPs have been detected in several human fluids and tissues, the consequences of MNP exposure to human health still remain unknown. Human biomonitoring (HBM) studies allow assessing human exposure to MPs and associated adverse health effects, contributing to the risk assessment of these environmental pollutants. To date, reliable human exposure estimates are hindered by the lack of standardized processing and analytical methods to detect MNPs in human tissues, and limited evidence on the MNP-related adverse health effects exists. Occupational environments, where plastics are processed, may represent prioritized settings for such evaluations, as workers typically face higher exposure levels than the general population. Population sub-groups with potentially higher susceptibility, such as children and pregnant women, should also be considered. To develop effective preventive strategies, it is essential to identify and validate sensitive and specific biomarkers of exposure and early biological changes, which could result in adverse health effects. Standardized protocols integrating environmental exposure assessment with HBM, and sensitive methods for evaluating internal dose resulting from cumulative exposure to MNP particles and associated chemicals are needed. Based on the experience gathered by a multidisciplinary panel of experts belonging to the European Research Cluster to Understand the Health Impacts of MNPs (CUSP), this consensus paper describes the key elements that should be part of an integrated HBM approach for MNP exposure, emphasizing existing challenges and proposing solutions for future studies.

Novel and advanced materials, including nanomaterials (NMs), are vital for diverse industrial and societal applications, yet conventional Research and Innovation (R&I) and Research and Development (R&D) can take decades to reach market deployment. Digitising these processes to support safe and sustainable material development, and reduce reliance on animal testing, requires large volumes of high-quality, interoperable data. The FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) Data Principles provide a framework for this, but demand domain-specific implementation strategies. We present nanoPharos, a repository offering ready-for-modelling NMs datasets integrating physicochemical characterisation, mechanistic toxicity, exposure, and risk assessment data, enriched with atomistic, structural, molecular, and periodic table-based descriptors. Built on an adapted ChemBL schema, nanoPharos captures NMs' complexity from unit cell to macroscopic properties, linking rich bibliographic, provenance, and scientific metadata. Case studies demonstrate scalability for advanced materials, while integration with platforms like nanodash and Zenodo enhances FAIRness. Evaluation via Joint Research Centre maturity indicators shows strong compliance, with ongoing work towards full ontology integration and advanced API queries.

Microplastic (MP) pollution poses an emerging threat to biodiversity, yet most studies focus on mean effects, overlooking the role of intraspecific variability in determining population resilience. From this perspective, we investigated whether exposure to polyvinyl chloride microplastics (PVC-MPs) reorganizes phenotypic heterogeneity in Tribolium castaneum, a terrestrial model of both ecological and experimental relevance. To this end, adults were exposed for seven days to a diet contaminated with PVC-MPs and compared with individuals maintained under baseline (control) conditions. We assessed survival rate, particle accumulation, and distinct behavioral biomarkers (across different paradigms), as well as biochemical endpoints predictive of oxidative stress, bioenergetic, neurochemical, and enzymatic alterations. Statistical analyses prioritized dispersion and structural metrics, including Gini's Mean Difference (GMD), entropy, heterogeneity tests (Fligner-Killeen and Energy distance), and the Multivariate Dispersion Network (MDN). The main results revealed that survival was higher in exposed individuals (92.2 %) despite pronounced particle accumulation, suggesting phenotypic modulation. Locomotor variability decreased (-24.7 %; 99.9 % PP), while spatial exploration, feeding response, and righting time increased in dispersion (+42-68 %; >97 % PP). At the biochemical level, we observed increased GMD in 5-HT, ROS, and AChE, accompanied by reduced digestive proteases and higher entropy, as well as integrated signatures linking behavioral responses to distinct physiological mechanisms. The MDN revealed collapsed modularity (≈ 0) and negative assortativity (-0.45), reflecting unstable covariance. Integrated heterogeneity metrics (GMD, CV, Shannon entropy) linked behavioral dispersion to physiological variation in 5-HT, ROS, total proteins, DA, and AChE activity. Thus, our findings indicate that PVC-MPs acted not only as toxic stressors but also as agents of intraspecific diversity reorganization, simultaneously promoting instability and canalization across different phenotypic axes. This reinforces the importance of heterogeneity-centered analyses in understanding the links between MP exposure, vulnerability, and population resilience, and further recommends their incorporation into ecotoxicological risk assessments.

Two-dimensional (2D) carbides and nitrides, collectively known as MXenes, are advanced materials known for their unique properties, including exceptional electrical conductivity, large surface area, and tuneable surface functionalities. MXenes have gained significant attention, due to their potential in energy storage, biomedicine, and environmental remediation. However, the safe and sustainable implementation of these materials is hindered by critical gaps in safety, sustainability, and regulatory data. This study applies the OECD's Early4AdMa anticipatory risk governance tool to systematically identify potential risks and challenges associated with titanium carbide (TiC) MXenes, the most extensively studied of the MXenes. We highlight critical uncertainties around human health and environmental impacts, stemming from discrepancies in acute toxicity studies, insufficient data on pulmonary exposure, genotoxicity, and long-term effects, and limited understanding of environmental fate and ecotoxicity. These knowledge gaps are sustained by the lack of harmonised guidance on sample preparation and dosimetry tailored to the unique morphology of MXenes. Moreover, life-cycle assessments demonstrate the high environmental cost of conventional synthesis methods, underlining the need for greener, energy-efficient alternatives and sustainable innovation approaches. In addition to addressing these knowledge gaps, a key follow-up action is the evaluation of the need to update regulatory guidance documents related to material characterization relevant for such 2D materials (e.g., lateral size, layers, and terminal groups) to ensure comprehensive risk assessment. The present study not only identifies actions to improve the safety and sustainability of TiC MXenes, but also provides a basis for the evaluation of other emerging materials.

Predicting the environmental fate of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) with high spatial resolution under realistic environmental conditions is key for a high-tier assessment of ENM exposure in the environment. A crucial step in this process is to link release assessments based on material flow analysis (MFA) with the fate and transport models. This paper presents a novel model that couples a form-specific probabilistic material flow analysis (PMFA) release model with a highly spatiotemporally resolved fate and transport river model. The effects of tides and the experimentally derived dissolution rate are incorporated into the modeling to accurately reflect the realistic environmental conditions of the study area, a coastal river in southern Taiwan. The PMFA results show that the pristine form of ZnO nanoparticles released into surface waters accounts for 89 % of the total ZnO nanoparticles released to surface waters, due to the limited coverage of the wastewater treatment system. Dissolution was the predominant fate process for ZnO nanoparticles in the Yanshuei River, while heteroaggregation was less important. Free ZnO nanoparticles only occurred sporadically and were noticeable at the discharge points, with the highest mean steady-state concentration of 0.9 μg/L. Free Zn ion was the major ZnO nanoparticles-derived product species, with an average steady-state concentration that can accumulate downstream to 7 μg/L. A sensitivity analysis indicated the importance of dissolution at dissolution rates k > 3 d, while heteroaggregation became important when k ≤ 0.1 d. The tides significantly affected the distributions of Zn species along the river. Within 2 months of simulation time, the high tide resulted in the accumulation of Zn species as much as 3 times higher at the river sections receiving large loads, while the low tide drained the plumes of Zn species. The study highlights the important considerations of the realistic local ENM release, including the ENM forms, in combination with the highly spatiotemporal fate and transport modeling, which is essential for the exposure assessment as a part of ecological risk assessment.

This paper presents a large-scale collaborative effort within a multi-partner consortium, to systematically structure, curate, and openly share data in alignment with the FAIR principles. The data result from a case study of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanomaterials (NMs) for photocatalytic depolluting surfaces, produced via various spray coating techniques under the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) approach. The data are publicly available through a dedicated Zenodo community (https://zenodo.org/communities/asina/records), comprising of individual records that separately host the data and the corresponding metadata. Each dataset is systematically named to reflect its context beginning with "ASINA dataset," followed by i) the relevant life cycle stage (LCS) from synthesis to end-of-life, ii) the SSbD dimension (i.e., functionality, safety, and environmental aspects), and iii) the assessed features (e.g., physicochemical properties, hazard evaluation, functionality assessment) facilitating searchability. The data files include "descriptors" excel tab, which is a harmonized version derived from primary data for visualization, data integration and future modeling applications. Metadata are provided in separate records and include detailed information such as contributor name and affiliations, experimental protocols, instrumentation, dictionary definitions, ontologies, and licensing terms. The data and metadata files are mutually paired in Zenodo using related identifiers, where each data file includes the DOI of its corresponding metadata file, and vice versa. In total, 43 interlinked records are provided capturing the case study, offering structured and machine-actionable resources that support modeling, data integration and harmonization efforts within the nanosafety and nanoinformatics communities. This effort was coordinated through dedicated data shepherding, which enabled trust-building, metadata alignment, and consistent FAIR implementation across partners.

Microplastics (MPs) are environmental pollutants with potential health risks. This study examined the effect of MPs on wound healing in both diabetic and non-diabetic mice. MPs exposure significantly delayed wound healing, particularly in diabetic mice, with reduced epidermal thickness and impaired collagen deposition. Mechanistically, MPs suppressed cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and increased apoptosis. Transcriptomic analysis identified dysregulation of critical wound healing pathways, especially those involved in inflammation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and lipid metabolism. Notably, the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was inhibited. In vitro experiments using human dermal fibroblasts confirmed that MPs disrupted the PI3K/AKT pathway, reducing cell proliferation and migration. Further investigation revealed that MPs suppressed N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) expression, leading to reduced ac4C-dependent stabilization of Fasn mRNA, which in turn diminished lipid synthesis and further inhibited the PI3K/AKT pathway. Our findings reveal a novel interaction between MPs and diabetes in impairing wound healing and suggest the NAT10-FASN-PI3K/AKT axis as a potential therapeutic target.

Microplastics (MPs) pollution threatens aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Herein, we assessed the uptake of MPs in seedling roots of three crop species exposed to small (0.2 μm) and large (1.0 μm) polystyrene (PS) beads by a microcosm study. Additionally, the physiological ecology of three species was also investigated after 7 d of exposure to different PS bead sizes. The results showed that fresh weight and growth inhibition was unaffected by particle sizes, while root length, shoot mass and root mass inhibition was significantly higher in C. sativus than that in P. vulgaris and S. bicolor (mean 28.6, 5.5 and 2.8 in C. sativus, P. vulgaris and S. bicolor, respectively). Uptake and accumulation were higher for small PS beads in P. vulgaris and C. sativus compared to that in S. bicolor, while more large PS beads were accumulated in C. sativus. Fluorescence intensity values of PS beads accumulation in different tissues confirmed these results. Malondialdehyde levels in seedling leaves of P. vulgaris and C. sativus were elevated in PS treatment groups but unchanged in S. bicolor. The highest and lowest proline content were observed for 0.2 μm and control groups, respectively. The Catalase activity was decreased in S. bicolor and C. sativus for large beads, with the average values of 17.5 and 20.3 Ug FW, respectively. In conclusion, different PS bead sizes significantly affected the accumulation and distribution in all species, as well as the antioxidant response. A better understanding the difference in MPs uptake and ecotoxicity between different species will help ensure food safety and effective agricultural environmental management.

Microplastic particulates (MPs) accumulate widely in ecosystems and pose health risks to both pregnant women and their offspring. Studies have detected MPs in the kidneys and fetal tissues, but it remains unclear whether maternal MP exposure worsens postnatal MP-induced hypertension and kidney disease. This study examined male rat offspring (n = 8/group) divided into four exposure groups: control, indirect (maternal exposure to 1 mg/L MPs during gestation and lactation), direct (offspring exposure to 1 mg/L MPs from 3 to 16 weeks), and combined exposure. By 16 weeks, both maternal and postnatal MP exposure elevated blood pressure (BP), with a synergistic effect observed in the combined exposure group. Maternal MP exposure also increased plasma creatinine levels, indicating kidney dysfunction. Oxidative kidney damage was associated with both direct and indirect MP exposure. Additionally, combined exposure disrupted gut microbiota, reducing species richness and evenness, and downregulated renal angiotensin II type 2 receptor expression, a key regulator of BP. These findings underscore the long-term health risks of MPs, emphasizing their role in the developmental origins of hypertension and kidney disease.

CuO engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) are widely used across various industries, resulting in their environmental release and subsequent transformation. This study examined the impact of chemical (sulphidation), biological (bovine serum albumin (BSA) corona), and double transformations (sulphidation + BSA coating) of CuO ENPs on the immobilisation of Daphnia magna (0.63-10 mg Cu/L) and the inhibition of root growth of Lepidium sativum (10-160 mg Cu/L). Transformations of CuO ENPs altered their chemical composition, morphology, and surface chemistry; the extent of changes depended on the transformation type. Dual transformations of CuO ENPs generated properties distinct from pristine and singly transformed ENPs. The transformations affected CuO ENP behaviour in aqueous media, including aggregation, dissolution rate, and ζ potential, ultimately influencing toxicity. Sulphidation increased CuO ENP dissolution fivefold, resulting in complete D. magna immobilisation. In contrast, BSA coating mitigated toxicity across all ENPs, enhancing daphnia mobility by 30-95 %. High CuO ENP concentrations inhibited L. sativum root growth, while all transformed ENPs exhibited reduced phytotoxicity. The reduced metal ion release from CuO ENPs only partly explained the lower toxicity of transformed CuO ENPs. Interactions between ENPs and biota were additionally modulated by ζ potential, aggregation kinetics, and organic surface coatings that restrict direct contact, and inorganic compounds. These results underscore the critical role of ENP transformations in modulating their toxicity to organisms.

Plastic particles, including nanoplastics, can serve as carriers for various contaminants such as pesticides, leading to considerable environmental hazards. Herein, we used Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) to specifically detect pesticides adsorbed onto nanoplastic particles at environmentally relevant concentrations. By utilizing common silver and gold nanoparticles (AgNPs, 15 nm; AuNPs, 30 nm) as SERS substrates, we enhanced the Raman signals of Diquat adsorbed to polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics surface (nanoPS, 100 nm). Notably, the technique successfully detected both the polymer and pesticide simultaneously at concentrations as low as 20 μg/L for the polymer and 66 μg/L for the pesticide-levels frequently found in environmental samples. The significant signal enhancement observed at these low concentrations highlights SERS as a powerful tool for monitoring pollutants attached to nanoplastic surfaces in environmental contexts.