Is there a silver lining? Aggregation and photo-transformation of silver nanoparticles in environmental waters.

The nanotechnology industry advances rapidly, and at the dissolution include coating them with a polymer, such as vanguard are the promising silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which have diverse applications. These nanometer-sized particles have been shown to inhibit the ability of bacteria to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a molecule necessary for chemical energy transport in cells. The antimicrobial properties of AgNPs (and Ag) make them valued antibacterial agents (Marambio-Jones and Hoek, 2010; Ahamed et al., 2010; Seil and Webster, 2012; Xiu et al., 2012; Chernousova and Epple, 2013). As a result, AgNPs are used in the sterilization of medical instruments and as wound gauze (Fig. 1a). The disinfectant properties of AgNPs have also facilitated their use as liners in household appliances and personal clothing. However, greater applications of AgNPs carry the challenge of handling greater wastes. AgNPs are not always stable within consumer products (Benn and Westerhoff, 2008; Pasricha et al., 2012). For example, if a wound dressing containing AgNPs is soaked in water, the AgNPs can be released from the wound dressing (Fig. 1) (Holbrook et al., 2014). Disposal of consumer products that contain AgNPs could result in contamination of the environment, notably the aquatic environment (Tolaymat et al. 2010; Gottschalk and Nowack 2011; Fabregaa et al., 2011).