Exposure and impacts of advanced (nano)materials : using aquatic mesocosms to evaluate and minimize environmental risks

Advanced (nano)materials have and will play a key role in environmental and energy transitions by enabling innovative solutions in water treatment, agriculture, energy production, electronics, and building efficiency. Past technological developments have taught us that long-term sustainability also depends on the accurate assessment of environmental and health risks. For advanced (nano)materials, whose properties are strongly influenced by size, shape, surface chemistry, and structural defects, risk assessment must explicitly account for realistic exposure scenarios and material transformations throughout their life cycle. In this context, mesocosm experiments represent a powerful approach to bridge the gap between laboratory studies and complex real-world environments.

This presentation highlights how aquatic mesocosms can be used to assess exposure, fate, and the ecological impacts of advanced (nano)materials and nano-enabled products under environmentally relevant conditions, thereby supporting Safe- and Sustainable-by-Design strategies. We will present several case studies involving pristine nanomaterials, nano-enabled products, and incidental nanoparticles generated during the advanced (nano)materials use phase or end-of-life. They include tungsten-based nanomaterials used for energy applications, tritiated stainless steel (nano)particles potentially released during nuclear dismantling scenarios, silver nanowires embedded in printed paper electronics, and mixed-metal oxide nanoparticles incorporated into infrared-reflective outdoor paints. Results from these mesocosm studies have revealed complex biogeochemical transformations such as dissolution, redox reactions, polymerization, and matrix-driven partitioning, which in turn drive the bioavailability, trophic transfer, and biological responses to the advanced (nano)materials.

Finally, we will discuss how mesocosm-based datasets support environmental risk assessment in relevant exposure conditions and guide material innovation toward safer and more sustainable outcomes. Their integration into collaborative platforms and decision-support tools enhances Safe- and Sustainable-by-Design implementation across technology readiness levels.