Impact of manufactured nanoparticles on the catabolic capabilities and phenotypic structure of soil microbial communities

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Manufactured nanoparticles are being used in a number of ways already in environmental applications such as bioremediation, and have been mooted as having great potential in fields such as new fertilsers for agriculture. Unfortunately, very little is known about the impact such nanoparticles may have on the strucutre and function of the microbial communities which exist in the soils receiving such applications. These communities are essential for the healthy function of soils: they underpin the production of food and fibre, the cycling of nutrients, the purification of water flowing through them, contribute to soil structural stability and it's ability to resist erosion, and interact closely with plants to maintain biodiversity, amongst many other ecosystem goods identified in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. So any impacts of nanoparticles on the normal functioning of soil communities is potentially very significant. This programme is aimed at providing some very basic information as to if, how and why nanoparticles have any impact on the normal composition and function of the soil microbial community, using well established techniques. These data will enable us to put the impact of nanoparticles in the context of other systems managed by humans, and to indicate the degree of risk associated with their use.