Nanoparticular surface-bound PCBs, PCDDs, and PCDFs—a novel class of potentially higher toxic POPs

Schön, Peter; Ctistis, Georgios; Bakker, Wouter; Luthe, Gregor

Nanoparticular surface-bound PCBs, PCDDs, and PCDFs—a novel class of potentially higher toxic POPs

2017

Schön, Peter | Ctistis, Georgios | Bakker, Wouter | Luthe, Gregor

In a previous study, Env Sci Poll Res:1-7, 2015 showed that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo dioxins (PCDDs), and polychlorinated dibenzo furanes (PCDFs) are found in commercially available (nano) particular titanium dioxide as a result of the fabrication. Here, we give a brief perspective and reason the toxicity of these new classes of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by reviewing also their nanoparticular properties, such as surface-to-volume ratio, photocatalytic activity, polarity shifts, and stealth effect. These insights point towards a new class of POPs and toxicologic effects, which are related to the size but not a result of nanotechnology itself. We pave the way to the understanding of until now unresolved very complex phenomena, such as the indoor exposure, formation, and transformation of POP and sick-building syndrome. This is a fundamental message for nanotoxicology and kinetics and should be taken into account when determining the toxicity of nanomaterials and POPs separately and as a combination.

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