Environmental nanoscientists and nanotoxicologists have made significant progress towards understanding the various factors and processes that impact the environmental fate and effects of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs); nevertheless, many knowledge gaps remain. This is partly due to a disconnect that occurs when these factors or processes are elucidated in simplified experimental systems and then applied to predict ENM behavior in significantly more complex real-world systems. To aid the translation of findings between these two extremes, we have outlined and demonstrated the use of a Framework for Relevance And Methods Evaluation (FRAME) based on three components or pillars that collectively define the “environmental realism” of a given experimental design. The three pillars include (1) the properties of the ENMs, (2) the experimental conditions, and (3) the exposure scenario and endpoints that are assessed. FRAME provides researchers with an approach for assessing the environmental relevance of alternative experimental designs. It also provides a basis for reporting how an individual study fits within the broader body of scientific knowledge and for identifying areas where additional research is needed. The proposed framework is intended to be used throughout the scientific process, from the initial conception of the experimental design and continuing through to the interpretation of experimental results. Committing to a more complete assessment of environmental realism has the potential to prevent the overgeneralization of results determined in simplified experimental systems and move the field forward more quickly through the identification of critical knowledge gaps.

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什么是“环境相关”？推进工程纳米材料的环境归宿和影响研究的框架

环境纳米科学家和纳米毒理学家在了解影响工程纳米材料 (ENM) 的环境归宿和影响的各种因素和过程方面取得了重大进展；尽管如此，仍然存在许多知识差距。这部分是由于当这些因素或过程在简化的实验系统中阐明，然后应用于预测明显更复杂的现实世界系统中的 ENM 行为时发生的脱节。为了帮助在这两个极端之间转换研究结果，我们概述并演示了相关性和方法评估框架 (FRAME) 的使用，该框架基于三个组成部分或支柱，共同定义了给定实验设计的“环境现实主义”。三大支柱包括（1）ENMs的性质，（2）实验条件，(3) 评估的暴露场景和终点。FRAME 为研究人员提供了一种评估替代实验设计的环境相关性的方法。它还为报告个人研究如何适应更广泛的科学知识体系以及确定需要额外研究的领域提供了基础。拟议的框架旨在用于整个科学过程，从实验设计的最初构想，一直到对实验结果的解释。致力于对环境现实主义进行更完整的评估有可能防止在简化的实验系统中确定的结果过度概括，并通过识别关键知识差距更快地推动该领域向前发展。