Transatlantic Initiative for Nanotechnology and the Environment

我们已经开发了一个生命周期的角度启发的概念模型（CM），这表明陆地生态系统的重要性，作为一个主要的存储库的ZnO，TiO 2，和银（第1层）人造纳米材料（MNM）通过土地应用的MNM含生物固体引入。我们提出了三个假设：假设（H1）表面化学是影响MNM在陆地环境中的归宿和迁移以及生物有效性和对生物受体的影响的主要因素;假设（H2）一旦释放到环境中，原始MNM表面将通过与有机和无机配体的相互作用而被改性（大分子）或通过其他地球化学转化（老化效应形成a-MNM）;假设（H3）生态感受器将响应与原始金属和金属氧化物MNM，α-MNM，和/或溶解的组成金属离子和大量氧化物的特定生态和毒理基因组学反应，将反映其综合效应。实验方法：将对通过模拟老化生产的第1层和第2层（CeO 2、碳纳米管）MNM和a-MNM进行详细的物理化学表征，这些材料将用于柱运输（第1层和第2层）、生物利用度和对关键生态受体（细菌、土壤无脊椎动物和植物）的影响（第1层）研究。将使用生态受体物种的子集收集1级MNM校准和验证pBRM所需的数据。然后，通过重复研究1级MNM（使用中试规模的污水处理设施进行实际污水处理），验证MNM模拟老化的CM和模型结果。为了促进这些和未来的调查MNM在环境相关的情况下，新的原位工具将被开发。预期结果：拟议的研究将产生的第一批数据中的重要类别的MNM进行污水处理厂的转换，以及那些添加到和老化的土壤。这些数据将是至关重要的评估潜在的直接和间接的生态和人类健康风险的MNM引入农业生态系统。在模拟老化材料上以及在含有生物固体和土壤的MNM上产生的数据以测试H1和H2，可以表明在现实环境场景下需要实验考虑的MNM性质的排列可以显著减少。此外，这项工作的结果将首次验证使用实验室控制实验中产生的基因和蛋白质表达谱作为环境现实条件下接触或影响的指标。拟议的研究和建模工作的一个重要成果将是开发第一代验证的预测模型的环境命运，行为，生物利用度和影响的几个重要类别的MNM在农业生态系统。

We have developed a life cycle perspective inspired conceptual model (CM) that suggests the importance of terrestrial ecosystems as a major repository of ZnO, TiO2, and Ag (Tier 1) manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) introduced via the land application of MNM-containing biosolids. We propose to investigate the transport, fate, behavior, bioavailability, and effects of MNMs in(to) agroecosystems under environmentally realistic scenarios organized around three key hypotheses: Hypothesis (H1) Surface chemistry is the primary factor influencing the fate and transport of MNMs in the terrestrial environment as well as the bioavailability and effects to biological receptors; Hypothesis (H2) Once released to the environment, pristine MNM surfaces will be modified by interactions with organic and inorganic ligands (macromolecules) or via other biogeochemical transformations (aging effects forming a-MNMs); Hypothesis (H3) Ecoreceptors will respond to interactions with pristine metal and metal oxide MNMs, a-MNMs, and/or dissolved constituent metal ions and bulk oxides by specific ecological and toxicogenomic responses that will reflect their combined effects. Experimental Approach: Detailed physicochemical characterization will be conducted on Tier 1 and Tier 2 (CeO2, carbon nanotubes) MNMs and a-MNMs produced by simulating aging and these materials will be utilized in column transport (Tier 1 and 2), bioavailability, and effects (Tier 1) studies to key ecoreceptors (bacteria, soil invertebrates, and plants). Data needed to calibrate and validate the pBRM will be collected for Tier 1 MNMs using a subset of ecoreceptor species. The CM and model results from the simulated aging of MNMs will then be validated by repeating studies of Tier 1 MNMs subjected to actual WWTP using a pilot scale WWT facility. To facilitate these and future investigations of MNMs under environmentally relevant scenarios, novel in situ tools will be developed. Expected Results: The proposed research will generate among the first data on the transformations of important classes of MNMs subjected to WWTP as well as those added to and aged in soil. These data will be critical for evaluating potential direct and indirect ecological and human health risks of MNMs introduced to agroecosystems. Data generated on the simulated aged materials and on the MNM containing biosolids and soils to test H1 & H2, may indicate that the permutations of MNM properties required to be experimentally considered under realistic environmental scenarios can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, the results of this work will provide the first validation of using gene and protein expression profiles generated in laboratory controlled experiments as an indicator of exposure or effects under environmentally realistic conditions. An important output from the proposed research and modeling efforts will be the development of first generation validated predictive models of the environmental fate, behavior, bioavailability, and effects of several important classes of MNMs in agroecosystems.