METABOLISM: accelerator Mass SpEctrometry to quanTify nanoplastics and decipher their fAte and Behavior in envirOnmentaL and bIological SysteMs

代谢：加速器质谱法可量化纳米塑料并破译其在环境和生物系统中的命运和行为

• 批准号: EP/Y002733/1
• 负责人: Maya Al-Sid-Cheikh
• 金额: $ 20.95万
• 依托单位: University of Surrey
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2024 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FY002733%2F1
• 关键词: METABOLISM; accelerator; Mass; SpEctrometry; quanTify

Studies investigating the effects of nanoplastics (NPs) on aquatic organisms used concentrations between 2 to 7 order-of-magnitudes higher than those predicted in the open ocean in order to be able to track NPs. These studies divided the community between those sounding the alarm due to the observed ecotoxicological effects, and those predicting that NP concentrations in the environment are far below any threshold-effect. In reality most experiments were inadequately designed, and thus the results unsatisfying. Fit-to-purpose experimental designs have been hindered by a lack of appropriate NP models, tracking methods, and monitoring strategies for environmentally realistic concentrations.Using 14C-labelled NPs and conventional nuclear techniques, we have recently modelled that scallops, chronically exposed (over a year) to environmentally realistic NP concentrations (15 ug/L) might accumulate and reach NPs concentrations in body tissue where effects have been observed by those sounding the alarm. Astonishingly, this suggests that NPs might already be beyond threshold-effects in organisms and harming the marine biota.Here, we will deliver an innovative approach that will overcome the analytical limitations for detecting, mapping and quantifying NPs in realistic environmental settings. By combining 14C-labelling of NPs with the ultimate sensitivity of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), METABOLISM will allow to investigate whether NPs in the oceans are already beyond "threshold-effect" concentrations in tissues. METABOLISM will: i) provide representative intrinsically radiolabelled NP models; ii) perform chronic NP exposures with a model organism (i.e. mussels) at environmentally realistic NP concentrations (ppt-levels); iii) develop the combustion AMS to generate toxicokinetic data; iv) explore the LA-AMS to produce spatially-resolve 14C measurement to quantify tissue distribution of NPs.The approach proposed here is essential and will produce unique, valuable and fundamental knowledge on the combined long-term accumulation of NPs in aquatic environments. This is critical for developing appropriate management strategies regarding plastic litter. If successful, METABOLISM will indeed support policy makers in improving environmental risk assessments of NPs and other contaminants of emerging concerns (CEC). It is envisioned that the approach proposed herein will enable a step-change in the research on CECs and will allow the study of many different aspects of their fates (e.g., transformation, fragmentation, biomineralization, biodistribution). METABOLISM chooses a highly innovative approach to address its research questions. It combines radiochemistry and unlock the power of the AMS to resolve important environmental questions. It will establish 14C-labelled NPs as a gold standard for performing realistic laboratory-based studies. It is fundamental research that will have a critical impact beyond its overall goal. The research proposed will, for instance, have a huge impact on the use of 14C as low-level tracer in biomedical studies (i.e. micro-dosing), where appropriate methods are often missing. The approach proposed is unique and will allow to perform ground-breaking science that goes beyond the state-of-the-art. METABOLISM builds an inter-disciplinary research team that integrates the relevant expertise in environmental analytical chemistry, radiochemistry and physics.

调查纳米塑料（NPs）对水生生物影响的研究使用的浓度比公海中预测的浓度高2至7个数量级，以便能够跟踪NPs。这些研究将社区分为两类：一类是由于观察到的生态毒理学效应而发出警报的社区，另一类是预测环境中NP浓度远低于任何阈值效应的社区。事实上，大多数实验设计得都不充分，因此结果并不令人满意。由于缺乏合适的NP模型，跟踪方法和环境现实浓度的监测策略，适合目的的实验设计受到阻碍。使用14 C标记的NP和常规核技术，我们最近模拟了扇贝，长期暴露（一年以上）至环境上实际可行的NP浓度（15微克/升）可能积累并达到NPs在身体组织中的浓度，其中那些发出警报的人已经观察到了效果。令人惊讶的是，这表明纳米粒子可能已经超出了生物体的阈值效应，并损害海洋生物群。在这里，我们将提供一种创新的方法，将克服在现实环境中检测，绘图和量化纳米粒子的分析限制。通过将NPs的14 C标记与加速器质谱（AMS）的最终灵敏度相结合，代谢将允许调查海洋中的NPs是否已经超过组织中的“阈值效应”浓度。代谢将：i）提供代表性固有放射性标记的NP模型; ii）用模型生物体进行慢性NP暴露（即贻贝）在环境上现实的NP浓度（ppt水平）; iii）开发燃烧AMS以生成毒代动力学数据; iv）探索LA-AMS以产生空间分辨的14 C测量来量化NP的组织分布。这里提出的方法是必要的，关于纳米颗粒在水生环境中长期累积的宝贵和基本知识。这对于制定适当的塑料垃圾管理策略至关重要。如果成功的话，代谢将确实支持政策制定者改善对纳米颗粒和其他新出现的污染物的环境风险评估。可以设想，本文提出的方法将使CEC的研究能够逐步改变，并将允许研究其命运的许多不同方面（例如，转化、碎裂、生物矿化、生物分布）。代谢选择一个高度创新的方法来解决其研究问题。它结合了放射化学和释放AMS的力量来解决重要的环境问题。它将建立14 C标记的纳米颗粒作为进行现实的实验室研究的金标准。基础研究将产生超越其总体目标的关键影响。例如，拟议的研究将对14 C作为生物医学研究中的低水平示踪剂（即微量给药）的使用产生巨大影响，因为通常缺少适当的方法。所提出的方法是独特的，将允许执行突破性的科学，超越了国家的最先进的。代谢建立了一个跨学科的研究团队，整合了环境分析化学，放射化学和物理学的相关专业知识。