Nanotechnology-based pesticides: Environmental fate and ecotoxicity

The imminent increase in global food demand inevitably leads to an increase in agricultural practices, with an emphasis on pesticide applications. Nanotechnology-based pesticides, or nanopesticides, have gained importance as they are more efficient and, in some cases, less toxic than their conventional counterparts. However, concerns about these novel products have arisen as evidence about their (eco)safety is controversial. This review aims to: (1) introduce the currently applied nanotechnology-based pesticides and their mechanisms of toxic action; (2) describe their fate when released into the environment, with an emphasis on aquatic environments; (3) summarize available research on ecotoxicological studies in freshwater non-target organisms through a bibliometric analysis; and (4) identify gaps in knowledge from an ecotoxicological perspective. Our results show that the environmental fate of nanopesticides is poorly studied and depends on both intrinsic and external factors. There is also a need for comparative research into their ecotoxicity between conventional pesticide formulations and their nano-based counterparts. Among the few available studies, most considered fish species as test organisms, compared to algae and invertebrates. Overall, these new materials generate toxic effects on non-target organisms and threaten the integrity of the environment. Therefore, deepening the understanding of their ecotoxicity is crucial.

Automated summary

With the increase in global food demand, agricultural practices and pesticide applications are on the rise. Nanotechnology-based pesticides, known as nanopesticides, have gained importance due to their higher efficiency and, in some cases, lower toxicity compared to conventional pesticides. However, there are concerns about their (eco)safety as evidence on their environmental impact is controversial. This review aims to provide an overview of the current nanotechnology-based pesticides, their toxic mechanisms, their fate in the environment (particularly aquatic environments), and the available research on their ecotoxicological effects on non-target organisms. The review also highlights the need for more comprehensive studies on the fate and ecotoxicity of nanopesticides and identifies research gaps in this area.