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Nanotechnology is an emerging and promising field for advanced applications in industrial, commercial and medical sectors, and nanomaterials can be found today in sunscreens, deodorants and textiles. Yet these nanomaterials, which are increasing in number, are entering waste streams as part of end-of-life products along with conventional waste, without any real understanding of their environmental impacts or health risks on human beings and living organisms.
This report provides a literature review on four specific waste treatment processes (recycling, incineration, landfilling and wastewater treatment). While state-of-the-art waste treatment facilities may collect, divert or eliminate nanomaterials from these waste streams, the report concludes that knowledge gaps associated with their final disposal remain, underlining the need for further research in this area.
This publication has been developed by OECD’s Environmental Policy Committee through its Working Party on Resource Productivity and Waste (WPRPW). The individual chapters on recycling, incineration, landfilling and wastewater treatment have been developed by technical experts from Switzerland, Germany, Canada and France. At the OECD Secretariat the project was co-ordinated by Peter Börkey and Shunta Yamaguchi under the supervision of Shardul Agrawala, Head of the Environment and Economy Integration Division.
This chapter provides an overview of the emerging scientific findings on the behaviour and exposure of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) during the waste incineration process and identifies knowledge-gaps regarding specific aspects of the disposal of waste containing nanomaterials (WCNMs). The report includes a brief summary of the scientific information available on the behaviour of ENM during the waste incineration process, an overview of the ENMs of highest relevance in municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWI), a short description of the best available techniques (BAT) of waste incineration and the techniques meant to retain or destroy hazardous substances, as well as a discussion of the possible ways ENMs may pass through existing pollution control devices.
This chapter investigates the current state of knowledge on engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and their behaviour in wastewater treatment processes in order to identify areas for future research. It focuses on the processes currently in use for urban sewerage treatment and begins by investigating the presence of engineered nanomaterials in wastewater treatment plants. It the moves on to examine the possible retention and aggregation of engineered nanomaterials in activated sludge and explores the possible transformations that ENMs can undergo in treatment plants and the models that are available to predict these transformations. The chapter also discusses the potential risks of agricultural application of sewerage sludge that is charged with engineered nanomaterials. The chapter concludes by identifying knowledge gaps and areas where additional research would be required.
Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), defined as in the scale of 1nm to 100nm, are increasingly utilised in applications of industrial, commercial and medical sectors bringing many benefits to society in the field of health and medical care, clothing, construction material, electronic and sporting equipment. Examples of products that contain ENMs are sunscreen, deodorant, water repellent and antibacterial textiles, lithium ion batteries, glass coating, and tennis rackets.
This overview chapter highlights the findings from subsequent chapters that focus on four specific waste treatment processes: recycling, incineration, landfilling, and wastewater treatment. The chapter clarifies the current state of knowledge on the fate and possible impacts of nanomaterials in these processes, provides possible ways forward and identifies future research areas and possible approaches to further address the emerging issue of waste containing nanomaterials.
This chapter provides an initial review of available scientific information about the sources of ENMs in landfills, their fate and behaviour there, as well as the effectiveness of landfills in retaining ENMs. It investigates potential pathways of ENM releases into the environment and considers the related risks. The chapter summarises key points of concern and identifies existing knowledge gaps.
This chapter reviews the current state of knowledge on the fate of nanomaterials in recycling operations and identifies the areas where further work on the environmentally sound management of waste containing nanomaterials would be needed. It explores the risks related to nanomaterials in waste, the effectiveness of best available techniques (BAT) and the consequences of non-standard treatment of waste. The chapter also identifies key knowledge gaps and possible areas for further research.