Mobility of engineered nanoparticles in the subsurface with particular focus on the partially saturated zone

纳米技术在加拿大和全世界都是一个新兴产业。 这一新领域既令人兴奋，也有人持怀疑态度。 一方面，通过利用纳米颗粒的独特性质，存在巨大的技术机会。 另一方面，人们担心，当纳米颗粒意外或故意释放到环境中时，它们将对人类和生态健康产生不利影响。 人们对摄入或吸入这些颗粒的急性和慢性健康影响表示担忧，这些颗粒的直径比人类头发小1000倍。 在地下水库方面，人们担心纳米颗粒可能会通过土壤和岩石中的微观流动通道污染大片地区。 纳米颗粒在地下环境中的风险是未知的，由于缺乏对含水土壤中纳米颗粒运输的基本科学理解而受到限制。 加拿大环境部估计，29%的加拿大人消耗地下水，更多的人通过农业和工业间接依赖地下水;因此，长期保护这一资源至关重要。

Nanotechnology is an emerging industry in Canada and throughout the world. This new area is met with both excitement and scepticism. On the one hand there are tremendous technological opportunities through the exploitation of the unique properties of nanoparticles. On the other hand, there is concern that nanoparticles will have adverse effects on human and ecological health when, accidentally or intentionally, they are released to the environment. Concerns have been raised regarding the acute and chronic health effects of ingesting or inhaling these particles, which are 1000 times smaller in diameter than a human hair. In terms of groundwater reservoirs, there are concerns that nanoparticles may contaminate vast areas by moving through microscopic flow channels in soil and rock. The risks of nanoparticles in subsurface environments are as yet unknown, limited by a lack of basic scientific understanding of nanoparticle transport in water bearing soils. Environment Canada estimates that 29% of Canadians consume groundwater and many more depend on groundwater indirectly through agriculture and industry; thus, the long-term protection of this resource is essential.