ISO Publishes Standard on Aquatic Toxicity Assessment of Manufactured Nanomaterials in Saltwater Lakes
In November 2017, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published standard ISO/TS 20787:2017, “Nanotechnologies — Aquatic toxicity assessment of manufactured nanomaterials in saltwater lakes using Artemia sp. Nauplii.” ISO/TS 20787:2017 specifies a test method, aiming to maximize repeatability and reliability of testing, to determine whether manufactured nanomaterials are toxic to aquatic organisms, specifically Artemia sp. nauplius. ISO states that ISO/TS 20787:2017 is intended to be used by ecotoxicological laboratories that are capable in the hatching and culturing of Artemia sp. and the evaluation of toxicity of nanomaterials using Artemia sp. nauplius. The method uses Artemia sp. nauplii in a simulated environment, artificial seawater, to assess effects of nanomaterials. ISO states that ISO/TS 20787:2017 is applicable to manufactured nanomaterials that consist of nano-objects such as nanoparticles, nanopowders, nanofibers, nanotubes, and nanowires, as well as aggregates and agglomerates of such manufactured nanomaterials.