Disinfection Byproducts and Their Precursors in Drinking Water Sources:Origins,Influencing Factors,and Environmental Insights

Tracing the contamination origins in water sources and identifying the impacts of natural and human processes are essential for ecological safety and public health.However,current analysis approaches are not ideal,as they tend to be laborious,time-consuming,or technically difficult.Disinfection byproducts(DBPs)are a family of well-known secondary pollutants formed by the reactions of chemical disinfectants with DBP precursors during water disinfection treatment.Since DBP precursors have various origins(e.g.,natural,domestic,industrial,and agricultural sources),and since the formation of DBPs from different precursors in the presence of specific disinfectants is distinctive,we argue that DBPs and DBP precursors can serve as alternative indicators to assess the contamination in water sources and identify pollution origins.After providing a retrospective of the origins of DBPs and DBP precursors,as well as the specific formation patterns of DBPs from different precursors,this article presents an overview of the impacts of various natural and anthropogenic factors on DBPs and DBP precursors in drinking water sources.In practice,the DBPs(i.e.,their concentration and speciation)originally present in source water and the DBP precursors determined using DBP formation potential tests—in which water samples are dosed with a stoichiometric excess of specific disinfectants in order to maximize DBP formation under certain reaction conditions—can be considered as alternative metrics.When jointly used with other water quality parameters(e.g.,dissolved organic carbon,dissolved organic nitrogen,fluorescence,and molecular weight distribution)and specific contaminants of emerging concern(e.g.,certain pharmaceuticals and personal care products),DBPs and DBP precursors in drinking water sources can provide a more comprehensive picture of water pollution for better managing water resources and ensuring human health.

Progress in Analytical Methods of Halogenated Disinfection By-Products

Ensuring the health and safety of drinking water is crucial for both nations and their citizens.Since the 20th century,the disinfection of drinking water,effectively controlling pathogens in water sources,has become one of the significant advances in public health.However,the disinfectants used in the process,such as chlorine and chlorine dioxide,react with natural organic matter in the water to produce disinfection by-products(DBPs).Most of these DBPs contain chlorine,and if the source water contains bromine or iodine,brominated or iodinated DBPs,collectively referred to as Halogenated disinfection byproducts(X-DBPs),are formed.Numerous studies have found that X-DBPs pose potential risks to human health and the environment,leading to widespread concern.Mass spectrometry has become an important means of discovering new types of X-DBPs.This paper focuses on the study of methods for analyzing X-DBPs in drinking water using mass spectrometry.

Design of Water Disinfection Scheme for Rural Drinking Water Safety Project

As further promotion of the rural drinking water safety project in whole country, small villages in vast countryside have been or will be equipped with safety drinking water project. We analyzed necessity of the rural drinking water disinfection, discussed disinfection method suitable for rural drinking water characteristics, and put forward disinfection schemes for different water supply sources.

Solar photocatalytic pathogenic disinfection:Fundamentals to state-of-the-art

It is necessary to treat pathogen-infected water before its utilisation.Of conventionally used treatment methods,solar photocatalysis has gained considerable momentum owing to its operational simplicity and capacity to use freely and abundantly available solar energy.This article systematically reviewed the disinfection of water with photocatalysis.It addressed the concerns of microbial infection of water and the fundamentals behind its treatment with photocatalysis.It presented an in-depth description of pathogenic deactivation with powerful reactive oxygen species.Special emphasis was given to process intensification as it is an attractive technique that provides multifunctionality and/or equipment miniaturisation.Solar reactor design regarding mobilised/immobilised photocatalysts and compound parabolic concentrators were elucidated.Finally,key parameters governing photoperformance,corresponding trade-offs,and the need for their optimisation were discussed.Overall,this article is a single point of reference for researchers,environmentalists,and industrialists who address the ever-severing challenge of providing clean water whilst also maintaining energy sustainability.

The Disinfection of Drinking Water in Trunk Water Mains

This study aimed to explore the disinfection of drinking water in trunk water mains, based on published conditions denoted within the Irish Republic. The variables within the study were consumer draw-off rates, trunk main length, pipe diameter, and water temperature. All these factors are known to impact the free chlorine residual in operational supply networks. Based on published conditions obtained within the literature review, 60 hypothetical trunk mains were generated for this study. Of primary concern were the variables that affect the chlorine decay rate;total amount of chlorine decay;available amount of chlorine in the periphery of the trunk main;and the costs associated with effective chlorine disinfection of trunk mains. Based on the analysis performed, the following were the salient observations: 1) Low consumer draw-off rates and increased trunk main length and diameter increased the risk of the free chlorine residual in the periphery of the trunk mains not complying with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) minimum recommended residual value of 0.1 mg/l (EPA Drinking Water Audit Report, 2014). 2) Increasing the diameter of the trunk main from 125 mm to 180 mm had a negligible effect on the chlorine decay rate. However, increasing the trunk main diameter from 125 mm to 180 mm was shown to have a major impact on the total amount of chlorine decay and free chlorine residual available in the periphery of the main. The key parameters that affected disinfection costs associated with trunk mains include length, diameter and the need for chlorine boosting.

Comparison of Anolyte and Chlorine Dioxide for a Continuous Hot Water Disinfection in Nursing Home: A Two Years Legionnaires’ Disease Prevention

Worldwide epidemiological reports assert that drinking water is a source for infections and Legionella control represents a critical issue in healthcare settings. Chemical disinfections of water networks are control measures that need to be fine-tuned to obtain satisfactory results in large buildings over prolonged time periods. Aim of study is the evaluation of the effect of anolyte and chlorine dioxide, applied in two different hot water networks of a nursing home to manage Legionella risk. Nursing home has two buildings (A and B), with the same point of aqueduct water entrance. From June 2016, following a shock chlorination, the continuous disinfections with chlorine dioxide and anolyte were applied in hot networks of building A and B, respectively. Hot water was sampled at the central heating system and at two points of use for Legionella research, while chemical tests of manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and trihalomethanes compounds (THM) were implemented to evaluate the disinfection by-products presence. Before chlorination Legionella pneumophila sg1 was recovered with a mean count of 2.4 × 104 CFU/L, while chemical compounds concentrations were within the law limits (Directive 98/83/EC). Then the disinfections Legionella was not recovered in both hot water plants. After the disinfection with chlorine dioxide (from June 2016 to May 2018), a statistically significant increase of iron, zinc and THM concentrations was detected in building A (p = 0.012;p = 0.004;p = 0.008). Both disinfectants appear effective against Legionella spp. growth in water network, but anolyte ensures a lower disinfection by-products release.

Silver nanoparticles on UiO-66(Zr)metal-organic frameworks for water disinfection application

Drinking water disinfection is an essential process to assure public health all over the world.In this study,silver nanoparticles(AgNPs)on UiO-66(Zr)Metal-Organic Frameworks(Ag@UiO-66)is proposed as a potential water disinfection strategy.AgNPs are synthesized using polyvinyl pyrrolidone(PVP)as stabilizing agent,and sodium borohydride as reducing agent are subsequently embedded on UiO-66,a high-stability organometallic framework.The effect of premixing time,reaction time and reactant concentration on the loading rate of AgNPs on UiO-66 was investigated.The maximum load rate of AgNPs on UiO-66 could reach 13%when the premixing time is 3 h,the reaction time is 45 min and the concentration of AgNO_(3) is10μg/mL.The formation of AgNPs loaded on UiO-66 was observed and confirmed with ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometry(UV-Vis),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),infrared emission spectroscopy(IES)and X-ray diffraction(XRD)analysis.Ag@UiO-66 exhibited strong antibacterial activity against both Gramnegative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus,with minimum inhibitory concentrations(MIC)of 64 and 128μg/mL,respectively.The germicidal efficacy of Ag@UiO-66 enhanced significantly as the temperature rose from 4℃to 37℃.The results indicate that Ag@UiO-66 is potential candidate as a feasible water disinfection material.

Water disinfection:Advances in photocatalysis and piezo/triboelectric catalysis with progressively enhanced energy utilization

Increasing climate-related extreme weather events and conflicts hinder safe water sanitation for vulnerable populations.In developing areas,centralized water systems are impractical due to high costs and poor infrastructure.Thus,technologies utilizing renewable energy like solar and mechanical energy for water treatment hold promise.It is critical to develop photocatalysts and piezo-electric/triboelectric catalysts that capture solar energy as well as mechanical energy to generate disinfectants to maximize energy utilization.The latest advancements in principles,materials,and processes utilizing solar and mechan-ical energy for water disinfection are highlighted in this review.First,we elucidate both direct and indirect mechanisms of sunlight-mediated water dis-infection,discuss the evolution of photocatalysts from simple UV absorption to visible-light utilization,and even near-infrared light exploitation to enhance solar spectrum utilization efficiency.Furthermore,we delve into the fundamen-tal principles of piezoelectricity and triboelectricity relying on mechanical energy conversion as well as summarize the development of piezo/triboelectric cat-alysts from being driven by high-frequency energy to utilizing low-frequency mechanical energy from the environment.Finally,challenges and directions for efficient systems are outlined to inspire rational design strategies and accel-erate the production of superior catalytic systems applicable across a broad range.

Removal of disinfection by-products formation potential by biologically intensified process

The removal of disinfection by-products formation potential(DBPFP) in artificially intensified biological activated carbon(IBAC) process which is developed on the basis of traditional ozone granular activated carbon was evaluated. By IBAC removals of 31% and 68% for THMFP and HAAFP were obtained respectively. Under identical conditions, the removals of the same substances were 4% and 32% respectively only by the granular activated carbon(GAC) process. Compared with GAC, the high removal rates of the two formed potential substances were due to the increasing of bioactivity of the media and the synergistic capabilities of biological degradation cooperating with activated carbon adsorption of organic compounds. A clear linear correlation(R 2=0.9562 and R 2=0.9007) between DOC HAAFP removal rate and Empty Bed Contact Time(EBCT) of IBAC process was observed, while that between THMFP removal rate and EBCT of GAC was R 2=0.9782. In addition certain linear correlations between THMFP, HAAFP and UV 254 (R 2=0.855 and R 2=0.7702) were found for the treated water. For IBAC process there are also more advantages such as long backwashing cycle time, low backwashing intensity and prolonging activated carbon lifetime and so on.

Identification of key precursors contributing to the formation of CX_(3)R-type disinfection by-products along the typical full-scale drinking water treatment processes

Identification and characterization of disinfection by-product(DBP)precursors could help optimize drinkingwater treatment processes and improve the quality of finishedwater.This study comprehensively investigated the characteristics of dissolved organic matter(DOM),the hydrophilicity and molecule weight(MW)of DBP precursor and DBP-associated toxicity along the typical full-scale treatment processes.The results showed that dissolved organic carbon and dissolved organic nitrogen content,the fluorescence intensity and the SUVA254 value in raw water significantly decreased after the whole treatment processes.Conventional treatment processes were in favor of the removal of high-MW and hydrophobic DOM,which are important precursors of trihalomethane and haloacetic acid.Compared with conventional treatment processes,Ozone integrated with biological activated carbon(O3-BAC)processes enhanced the removal efficiencies of DOM with different MW and hydrophobic fractions,leading to a further decrease in almost all DBP formation potential and DBP-associated toxicity.However,almost 50%of the detected DBP precursors in raw water has not been removed after the coagulation-sedimentation-filtration integrated with O3-BAC advanced treatment processes.These remaining precursors were found to be mainly hydrophilic and low-MW(<1.0 kDa)organics.Moreover,they would largely contribute to the formation of haloacetaldehydes and haloacetonitriles,which dominated the calculated cytotoxicity.Since current drinking water treatment process could not effectively control the highly toxic DBPs,the removal of hydrophilic and low-MW organics in drinking water treatment plants should be focused on in the future.

Disinfection byproducts in indoor swimming pool water: Detection and human lifetime health risk assessment

Quantification of regulated and emerging disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in swimming pool water,as well as the assessment of their lifetime health risk are limited in China.In this study,the occurrence of regulated DBPs (e.g.,trihalomethanes,haloacetic acids) and emerging DBPs (e.g.,haloacetonitriles,haloacetaldehydes) in indoor swimming pool water and the corresponding source water at a city in Eastern China were determined.The concentrations of DBPs in swimming pool water were 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than that in source water.Lifetime cancer and non-cancer risks of DBPs stemming from swimming pool water were also estimated.Inhalation and dermal exposure were the most significant exposure routes related to swimming pool DBP cancer and non-cancer risks.For the first time,buccal and aural exposure were considered,and were proven to be important routes of DBP exposure (accounting for 17.9%-38.9%of total risk).The cancer risks of DBPs for all swimmers were higher than 10^(-6)of lifetime exposure risk recommended by United States Environmental Protection Agency,and the competitive adult swimmers experienced the highest cancer risk (7.82×10^(-5)).These findings provide important information and perspectives for future efforts to lower the health risks associated with exposure to DBPs in swimming pool water.

Bacteria inactivation by sulfate radical:progress and non-negligible disinfection by-products

Sulfate radicals have been increasingly used for the pathogen inactivation due to their strong redox ability and high selectivity for electron-rich species in the last decade.The application of sulfate radicals in water disinfection has become a very promising technology.However,there is currently a lack of reviews of sulfate radicals inactivated pathogenic microorganisms.At the same time,less attention has been paid to disinfection by-products produced by the use of sulfate radicals to inactivate microorganisms.This paper begins with a brief overview of sulfate radicals’properties.Then,the progress in water disinfection by sulfate radicals is summarized.The mechanism and inactivation kinetics of inactivating microorganisms are briefly described.After that,the disinfection by-products produced by reactions of sulfate radicals with chlorine,bromine,iodide ions and organic halogens in water are also discussed.In response to these possible challenges,this article concludes with some specific solutions and future research directions.

Inactivation efficiency of slightly acidic electrolyzed water against microbes on facility surfaces in a disinfection channel

Slightly acidic electrolyzed water(SAEW,pH 6.0-6.5)is an ideal and environmentally-friendly disinfectant,which was used to prevent and control bacterial infections on farms.This work aims to investigate the inactivation effectiveness of SAEW in inactivating microbes in a disinfection channel.The bactericidal efficiency of SAEW on equipment surfaces was compared to two commercial disinfectants,Kuei A bromide solution(KAS,5:1000 v/v)and Glutaraldehyde solution(GS,5:1000 v/v).The disinfection effectiveness of SAEW in inactivating Salmonella enteritidis(S.enteritidis)on equipment surfaces in the disinfection channel was evaluated,and a model was developed using multiple linear regression analysis.Results indicated that SAEW was significantly(p<0.05)more efficient than KAS and GS on kits and clothing in the disinfection channel at 1 min.The SAEW did not contribute as aggressively to respiratory difficulty as KAS and GS.Maximum reductions of 2.362 log10 CFU/cm^(2),2.613 log10 CFU/cm^(2) and 2.359 log10 CFU/cm^(2) for Salmonella enteritidis were obtained from clothing surfaces,iron materials,and kits treated with SAEW for 2.5 min at a chlorine concentration of 220 mg/L.Moreover,the established model had a good fit-quantified by the determination coefficient R^(2)(0.939)and a lack of fit test(p>0.05).In addition,available chlorine concentration(ACC)was an important factor than other factors,and the inactivation efficiency of Salmonella enteritidis sprayed by SAEW treatment was different between iron materials,kits and clothing surfaces(iron>kit>clothing).

Identification of unknown disinfection byproducts in drinking water produced from Taihu Lake source water

Although disinfection byproducts(DBPs) in drinking water have been suggested as a cancer causing factor, the causative compounds have not yet been clarified. In this study, we used liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight spectrometry(LC-QTOF MS) to identify the unknown disinfection byproducts(DBPs) in drinking water produced from Taihu Lake source water, which is known as a convergence point for the anthropogenic pollutants discharged from intensive industrial activities in the surrounding regions. In total, 91 formulas of DBPs were discovered through LC-QTOF MS nontarget screen, 81 of which have not yet been reported. Among the 91 molecules, 56 only contain bromine, 15 only contain chlorine and 20 DBPs have both bromine and chlorine atoms. Finally, five DBPs including 2,4,6-tribromophenol, 2,6-dibromo-4-chlorophenol, 2,6-dichloro-4-bromophenol, 4-bromo-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol and 3,6-dibromocarbazole were confirmed using standards. The former three compounds mainly formed in the predisinfection step(maximum concentration, 0.2-2.6 μg/L), while the latter two formed in the disinfection step(maximum concentration, 18.2-33.6 ng/L). In addition, 19 possible precursors of the discovered DBPs were detected, with the aromatic compounds being a major group. 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol as the precursor of 4-bromo-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol was confirmed with standard, with a concentration of 20.3 μg/L in raw water. The results of this study show that brominated DBPs which are possibly formed from industrial pollutants are relevant DBP species in drinking water produced form Taihu source water, suggesting protection of Taihu Lake source water is important to control the DBP risks.

Characteristics of molecular weight distribution of dissolved organic matter in bromide-containing water and disinfection by-product formation properties during treatment processes

The characteristics of dissolved organic matter（DOM） and bromide ion concentration have a significant influence on the formation of disinfection by-products（DBPs）. In order to identify the main DBP precursors, DOM was divided into five fractions based on molecular weight（MW）, trihalomethane formation potential and haloacetic acid formation potential were determined for fractions, and the change in contents of different fractions and total DBPs during treatment processes（pre-chlorination, coagulation, sand filtration,disinfection） were studied. Moreover, the relationship between bromide concentration and DBP generation characteristics in processes was also analyzed. The results showed that the main DBP precursors were the fraction with MW 1 k Da and fraction with MW 3-10 k Da, and the DBP＇s generation ability of lower molecular weight DOM（ 10 k Da） was higher than that of higher molecular weight DOM. During different processes,pre-chlorination and disinfection had limited effect on removing organics but could alter the MW distribution, and coagulation and filtration could effectively remove organics with higher MW. For DBPs, trihalomethanes（THMs） were mainly generated in pre-chlorination and disinfection, while haloacetic acids（HAAs） were mostly generated during pre-chlorination; coagulation and sand filtration had little effect on THMs but resulted in a slight removal of HAAs. In addition, the results of ANOVA tests suggested that molecular sizes and treatment processes have significant influence on DBP formation. With increasing bromide concentration, the brominated DBPs significantly increased, but the bromine incorporation factor in the processes was basically consistent at each concentration.

Enhanced removal of organic matter and typical disinfection byproduct precursors in combined iron–carbon micro electrolysis-UBAF process for drinking water pre-treatment

The organic matter and two types of disinfection byproduct(DBP) precursors in micropolluted source water were removed using an iron–carbon micro-electrolysis(ICME)combined with up-flow biological aerated filter(UBAF) process. Two pilot-scale experiments(ICME-UBAF and UBAF alone) were used to investigate the effect of the ICME system on the removal of organic matter and DBP precursors. The results showed that ICME pretreatment removed 15.6% of dissolved organic matter(DOM)and significantly improved the removal rate in the subsequent UBAF process. The ICME system removed 31% of trichloromethane(TCM) precursors and 20% of dichloroacetonitrile(DCAN) precursors. The results of measurements of the molecular weight distribution and hydrophilic fractions of DOM and DBP precursors showed that ICME pretreatment played a key role in breaking large-molecular-weight organic matter into low-molecular-weight components, and the hydrophobic fraction into hydrophilic compounds, which was favorable for subsequent biodegradation by UBAF.Three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy(3D-EEM) further indicated that the ICME system improved the removal of TCM and DCAN precursors. The biomass analysis indicated the presence of a larger and more diverse microbial community in the ICME-UBAF system than for the UBAF alone. The high-throughput sequencing results revealed that domination of the genera Sphingomonas, Brevundimonas and Sphingorhabdus contributed to the better removal of organic matter and two types of DBP precursors. Also, Nitrosomonas and Pseudomonas were beneficial for ammonia removal.

Formation and control of disinfection byproducts and toxicity during reclaimed water chlorination： A review

Chlorination is essential to the safety of reclaimed water; however, this process leads to concern regarding the formation of disinfection byproducts（DBPs） and toxicity. This study reviewed the formation and control strategies for DBPs and toxicity in reclaimed water during chlorination.Both regulated and emerging DBPs have been frequently detected in reclaimed water during chlorination at a higher level than those in drinking water, indicating they pose a greater risk to humans. Luminescent bacteria and Daphnia magna acute toxicity, anti-estrogenic activity and cytotoxicity generally increased after chlorination because of the formation of DBPs. Genotoxicity by umu-test and estrogenic activity were decreased after chlorination because of destruction of toxic chemicals. During chlorination, water quality significantly impacted changes in toxicity.Ammonium tended to attenuate toxicity changes by reacting with chlorine to form chloramine,while bromide tended to aggravate toxicity changes by forming hypobromous acid. During pretreatment by ozonation and coagulation, disinfection byproduct formation potential（DBPFP）and toxicity formation potential（TFP） occasionally increase, which is accompanied by DOC removal; thus, the decrease of DOC was limited to indicate the decrease of DBPFP and TFP. It is more important to eliminate the key fraction of precursors such as hydrophobic acid and hydrophilic neutrals. During chlorination, toxicities can increase with the increasing chlorine dose and contact time. To control the excessive toxicity formation, a relatively low chlorine dose and short contact time were required. Quenching chlorine residual with reductive reagents also effectively abated the formation of toxic compounds.

Effects of disinfection efficiency on microbial communities and corrosion processes in drinking water distribution systems simulated with actual running conditions

The effects of disinfection efficiency on microbial communities and the corrosion of cast iron pipes in drinking water distribution systems(DWDSs) were studied.Two annular reactors(ARs) that simulated actual running conditions with UV/Cl2 disinfection and chlorination alone were used.High chlorine consumption and corrosion rate were found in the AR with UV/Cl2.According to functional genes and pyrosequencing tests, a high percentage of iron recycling bacteria was detected within the biofilm of the AR with Cl2 at early running stage, whereas siderophore-producing bacteria were dominant in the biofilm of the AR with UV/Cl2.At the early running stage, the sequential use of UV light and an initial high chlorine dosage suppressed the biomass and iron-recycling bacteria in both bulk water and biofilms, thereby forming less protective scales against further corrosion, which enhanced chlorine consumption.Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis showed that the bacterial communities in the ARs shaped from within rather than being imported by influents.These results indicate that the initial high disinfection efficiency within the distribution system had not contributed to the accumulation of iron-recycling bacteria at the early running stages.This study offer certain implications for controlling corrosion and water quality in DWDSs.

Impact of disinfection on drinking water biofilm bacterial community

Disinfectants are commonly applied to control the growth of microorganisms in drinking water distribution systems. However, the effect of disinfection on drinking water microbial community remains poorly understood. The present study investigated the impacts of different disinfectants（chlorine and chloramine） and dosages on biofilm bacterial community in bench-scale pipe section reactors. Illumina MiS eq sequencing illustrated that disinfection strategy could affect both bacterial diversity and community structure of drinking water biofilm. Proteobacteria tended to predominate in chloraminated drinking water biofilms, while Firmicutes in chlorinated and unchlorinated biofilms. The major proteobacterial groups were influenced by both disinfectant type and dosage. In addition, chloramination had a more profound impact on bacterial community than chlorination.

Silica-quaternary ammonium “Fixed-Quat” nanofilm coated fiberglass mesh for water disinfection and harmful algal blooms control

Intensification of pollution loading worldwide has promoted an escalation of different types of disease-causing microorganisms, such as harmful algal blooms(HABs), instigating detrimental impacts on the quality of receiving surface waters. Formation of unwanted disinfection by-products(DBPs) resulting from conventional disinfection technologies reveals the need for the development of new sustainable alternatives. Quaternary Ammonium Compounds(QACs) are cationic surfactants widely known for their effective biocidal properties at the ppm level. In this study, a novel silica-based antimicrobial nanofilm was developed using a composite of silica-modified QAC(Fixed-Quat) and applied to a fiberglass mesh as an active surface via sol–gel technique. The synthesized Fixed-Quat nanocoating was found to be effective against E. coli with an inactivation rate of 1.3 × 10^(-3) log reduction/cm min. The Fixed-Quat coated fiberglass mesh also demonstrated successful control of Microcystis aeruginosa with more than 99% inactivation after 10 hr of exposure.The developed antimicrobial mesh was also evaluated with wild-type microalgal species collected in a water body experiencing HABs, obtaining a 97% removal efficiency. Overall,the silica-functionalized Fixed-Quat nanocoating showed promising antimicrobial properties for water disinfection and HABs control, while decreasing concerns related to DBPs formation and the possible release of toxic nanomaterials into the environment.