Fate and effects of metallic nanoparticles in wetland systems

纳米技术提供了令人兴奋的科学进步。然而，随着这些进步，人们也担心这些相同的工程纳米颗粒（ENPs）可能对环境产生的影响。由于缺乏关于商业产品释放的环境纳米颗粒的特性的信息，缺乏关于环境纳米颗粒的生态系统影响的信息，以及对环境纳米颗粒进入生态系统后的命运和转化的一般知识空白，环境纳米颗粒对环境的风险在很大程度上是未知的。以前的研究主要使用在实验室环境中产生的或从供应商购买的ENPs，这并不代表从商业产品中释放的ENPs的性质。因此，目前对排放到环境中的ENPs的毒性影响的了解有限。 湿地覆盖加拿大14%的土地，提供生态系统服务，包括加拿大饮用水供应的大规模水净化，营养循环，水文事件的缓冲（例如潜在的洪水）。它们还为野生动物提供食物和栖息地，产品（如木材）和娱乐场所。预计湿地将通过水处理厂排放到湖泊或溪流中的污水（湿地通常是水生区和陆地区之间的过渡区），或通过地表生物固体扩散产生的径流和上流含水层迁移，接受环境无害物质。 利用最近开发的方法和知识，从商业产品，广谱ENP表征方法，和世界一流的处理湿地和微生物表征设施的ENP释放，该项目将填补目前的知识空白，在环境中的金属纳米粒子。总体目标是获得一个新的和更好的理解的命运和影响的银（Ag）和二氧化钛（TiO 2）ENPs在加拿大湿地环境。这一总体目标将在五年内通过三个子目标实现，A）开发穿戴商业产品以释放代表性Ag和TiO 2 ENPs的方法，B）确定Ag和TiO 2 ENPs对加拿大湿地沉积物和植物的影响，C）确定Ag和TiO 2 ENPs在湿地生态系统中的命运和影响。 三个硕士，两个博士，一个PDF，和15-20名本科生将通过该计划进行培训。除了专业的ENP培训，学生还将获得现场访问，获得现场技能培训的机会，并与加拿大环境专业人士互动。 从这项研究计划中获得的信息将直接洞察所选ENPs对加拿大生态系统的影响，为政策制定者提供额外的证据，帮助制定与其使用，释放和最大允许浓度相关的指南和标准。

Nanotechnology offers exciting scientific advancements. However, with these advancements there is also concern over the effects these same engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) can have on the environment. The risk of ENPs on the environment is largely unknown due to a lack of information on the properties of ENPs released from commercial products, a lack of information on the ecosystem level effects of ENPs, and a general knowledge gap in the fate and transformation of ENPs once they enter ecosystems. Previous research has largely used ENPs generated in a lab environment or purchased from suppliers, which do not represent the properties of ENPs released from commercial products. As such limited knowledge currently exists regarding the toxicological effects of ENPs released to the environment.*** Wetlands cover 14% of Canada and provide ecosystem services including large scale water purification for Canadian drinking water supplies, nutrient cycling, buffering of hydrological events (e.g. potential flooding). They also provide food and habitat for wildlife, products (e.g. lumber), and recreational areas. Wetlands are expected to receive ENPs through either water treatment plant effluents released into lakes or streams (wetlands are commonly found as transition zones between aquatic and terrestrial zones), or through runoff and up-flow aquifer transport originating from surface biosolids spreading.*** Using recently developed methods and knowledge regarding ENP releases from commercial products, a broad spectrum ENP characterization approach, and world-class treatment wetland and microbiological characterization facilities, this project will fill current knowledge gaps with respect to metallic nanoparticles in the environment. The overall goal is to gain a new and better understanding of the fate and effects of silver (Ag) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) ENPs in Canadian wetland environments. This overall goal will be achieved over five years through three sub-objectives, A) Develop methods of wearing commercial products to release representative Ag and TiO2 ENPs, B) Determine the effects of Ag and TiO2 ENPs on Canadian wetland sediments and plants, C) Determine the fate and effects of Ag and TiO2 ENPs in wetland mesocosms.*** Three MASc, two PhD, one PDF, and 15-20 undergraduate students will be trained through this program. In addition to specialised ENP training, students will also gain access to field sites, be given opportunities for field skill training, and interact with Canadian environmental professionals.*** Information gained from this research program will give direct insight into the effect of the selected ENPs on a fundamentally important Canadian ecosystem, giving policy makers an additional body of evidence assisting in developing guidelines and standards related to their use, release, and maximum allowable concentrations.**