Fate and effects of metallic nanoparticles in wetland systems

纳米技术带来了令人兴奋的科学进步。然而，随着这些进步，人们也担心这些工程纳米粒子（ENPs）对环境的影响。由于缺乏关于商业产品释放的ENPs特性的信息，缺乏关于ENPs对生态系统水平影响的信息，以及对ENPs进入生态系统后的命运和转化的普遍认识差距，ENPs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ENPs或从供应商那里购买的ENPs，这些ENPs并不代表商业产品释放的ENPs的性质。因此，目前关于释放到环境中的ENPs的毒理学效应的知识有限。***湿地覆盖加拿大14%的面积，提供生态系统服务，包括为加拿大的饮用水供应提供大规模的水净化、养分循环、缓冲水文事件（例如潜在的洪水）。它们还为野生动物、产品（如木材）和休闲区提供食物和栖息地。预计湿地会通过水处理厂排放到湖泊或溪流中的污水（湿地通常是水生和陆域之间的过渡区），或通过地表生物固体扩散引起的径流和向上流动的含水层运输来接收ENPs。***利用最近开发的关于商业产品中ENP释放的方法和知识，广谱ENP表征方法，以及世界级的处理湿地和微生物表征设施，该项目将填补目前关于环境中金属纳米颗粒的知识空白。总体目标是对加拿大湿地环境中银（Ag）和二氧化钛（TiO2） ENPs的命运和影响有一个新的更好的了解。这一总体目标将在五年内通过三个子目标实现，A)开发佩戴商业产品以释放具有代表性的Ag和TiO2 ENPs的方法，B)确定Ag和TiO2 ENPs对加拿大湿地沉积物和植物的影响，C)确定Ag和TiO2 ENPs在湿地生态系统中的命运和影响。***本项目培养硕士3人，博士2人，PDF 1人，本科生15-20人。除了专业的环境保护培训外，学生还将获得实地考察的机会，获得实地技能培训的机会，并与加拿大环境专业人士进行互动。***从该研究项目中获得的信息将直接洞察选定的ENPs对加拿大重要生态系统的影响，为政策制定者提供额外的证据，协助制定有关其使用、释放和最大允许浓度的指南和标准

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.**