Comparison of Microcosm and Single Species Test for Ecosystem Impact Risk Assessment of Silver Nanoparticle and Silver Ion

Abstract

Although the single species test is widely used currently as an environmental impact risk assessment method, this method is pointed out that the results may differ from those in natural ecosystem because of its species composition. In this study, using experimental microcosm system, silver nanoparticle and silver ion were assessed their environmental impact risk on ecosystem level. As results, the microcosm test, multi species test, can evaluate the impact risk of silver nanoparticle and silver ion as on the same level as the highly sensitive single species test. Furthermore, it can analyze the influence close to natural ecosystem level.