Due to their functional and magnetic characteristics, graphene and iron-based nanocomposites have attracted remarkable scientific and economic interest in biotechnology and nanomedicine. In recent years, there has been a significant focus on the practical application of functionalized magnetic adsorbents in water purification processes, particularly when combined with magnetic separation technologies. Considering that the production and use of nanomaterials will only increase in the future and that legal regulation of these materials in the manufacturing and waste management sectors has yet to be implemented, research on the impact of these nanoparticles on aquatic organisms in the context of a changing environment becomes important.
Magnetic nanoparticles possess a magnetic moment, enabling them to generate a magnetic field or respond to one. The primary sources of (electro)magnetic fields are wind turbines and their accompanying infrastructure. The development of renewable energy resources is gaining momentum worldwide, including in Lithuania. A 700 MW wind turbine power station is expected to be operational in Lithuanian territorial waters in the Baltic Sea by 2028. However, there is currently a lack of scientific evidence regarding the effects of (electro)magnetic fields on species in marine ecosystems.
The examination of these materials’ shape and functional properties will include parts of the synthesis, modification, and characterization of specific graphene and iron nanoparticles, as well as their nanocomposites. The hazardous effects of these nanomaterials on fish and invertebrates will be examined at several levels of biological organization to find patterns of nanoparticle impacts on organismal functional systems, biochemical and behavioral response patterns, and probable toxicity pathways. Comparative studies will be conducted on the anthropogenic effect of (electro)magnetic fields on aquatic organisms, employing sophisticated indicators of biological response and biomarkers. The regularities of nanoparticle toxicity will be investigated in the relationship between (electro)magnetic fields and chemical stress to better represent the effect of the multifunctional environment on the biological accessibility and toxicity of nanoparticles. The findings may be used to forecast potentially harmful quantities of these nanomaterials in the environment, as well as their interactions with physical stressors, which might generate complicated biological impacts in the context of a changing environment.