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Reactivity and ecotoxicity

Reactivity and ecotoxicity of engineered nanoparticles

Project background

Risk assessment of nanotechnology is becoming an increasing priority because:

  • Existing legal standards based on mass per unit volume aren’t applicable, as nanoparticles can occur in high concentration at low weights.
  • Many material properties change when particle sizes cross the boundary between micro and nano.
  • Many nanoparticles are synthesised specifically to be persistent and indestructible.
  • Many nanoparticle technologies involve novel uses of potentially toxic trace elements.
  • Nanoparticles could theoretically cross biological membranes, enter the cells of organisms and cause toxicity.
Aim

To investigate whether a link exists between physicochemical properties of engineered nanoparticles and a potential to cause environmental harm.

Objectives

To achieve this, we will:

  1. Synthesise and fully characterise a selection of metallo-nanoparticles, so as to be able to control and therefore test individual nanoparticle physicochemical properties.
  2. Augment this dataset with industrially produced and commercially available nanoparticles for comparative purposes.
  3. Study how these different particles behave in media simulating freshwater and seawater, to enable prediction of their behaviour if intentionally or accidentally released.
  4. Investigate links between nanoparticle reactivity in aqueous media and their physicochemical properties.
  5. Expose a range of aquatic invertebrates to these different particles to investigate bioavailability and ecotoxicity.

Methodology

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Primary investigator
Project partners
Post-doctoral research assistant
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