Nanomaterials in the Aquatic Environment

Principal Investigators: Walter J. Weber, Jr., Qingguo Huang, Peter Landrum, Xiangyang Shi, and Nicholas Kotov.

Student Supported: Elijah Petersen

Units Involved: College of Engineering, Medical School, and School of Public Health, University of Georgia (Griffin Campus), Donghua University (China), and NOAA.

Brief Project Description: Nanotechnology involves the synthesis and manipulation of materials in the size range from 1 to 100 nm. Materials having a characteristic dimension less than 100 nm often exhibit remarkable new properties and behaviors that differ significantly from those of larger bulk-scale materials having the same elemental composition. These materials thus have virtually boundless potential applications, but they may also pose new or exacerbated environmental risks. Given the anticipated widespread use of nanomaterials in the near future, it is inevitable that they will enter into various human and ecologically critical environments and media, including the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat.

The overarching goal of the proposed research is to initiate development of a sound and comprehensive scientific foundation for assessment of the potential risks these emerging contaminants pose prior to their widespread release to the environment. To accomplish this task, a multidisciplinary team with experience in numerous disparate but complimentary fields is critical for the successful completion of such research. Drs. Shi and Kotov, experts in materials science and chemistry, will synthesize and characterize a representative suite of nanomaterials varying in size, morphology, and surface coatings. Drs. Weber and Huang will focus their extensive knowledge of environmental nanotechnology on the design and conduct of experiments to assess the uptake, depuration, and potential ecotoxicological effects of the varied nanomaterials on different relevant ecological receptors. Dr. Landrum will serve in an advisory role overseeing these experiments and guiding the data interpretation and modeling.

Significant Accomplishments (as of January 1, 2009)

Publications:

• Petersen, E. J.; Huang, Q. G.; and Weber, W. J., Jr., “Bioaccumulation of radio-labeled carbon nanotubes by Eisenia foetida.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008, 42, (8), 3090-3095. o Petersen, E. J.; Huang, Q. G.; and Weber, W. J., Jr., “Ecological uptake and depuration of carbon nanotubes by Lumbriculus variegatus.” Environ. Health Perspectives. 2008, 116, (4), 496-500.
• Petersen, E.J., Huang, Q., and Weber, W. J., Jr. 2008. “Relevance of KOW Measurements.” Ecological Uptake of Carbon Nanotubes. In review. o Petersen, E. J., Akkanen, J., Kukkonen, J. V. K., and Weber, W. J., Jr., “Biological Uptake and Depuration of Carbon Nanotubes” Daphnia magna. (In review)
• Petersen, E. J., Pinto, R., Landrum, P. F., and Weber, W. J., Jr., “Influence of Carbon Nanotubes on Pyrene Bioaccumulation from contaminated Soils.” Earthworms (In review)
• Shen, M., Wang, S. H., Shi, X., Huang, Q., Petersen, E. J., Pinto, R. A., Baker, J. R., Jr., and Weber, W. J., Jr., “Polyethyleneimine-Mediated Functionalization of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: Synthesis, Characterization, and in vitro Toxicity Assay.” (In review)

Presentations:

• Petersen, E.J., Huang, Q., Weber, W. J., Jr., and Kukkonen, J. V. K. “Ecological Uptake and Depuration of Carbon-14 Nanotubes. NanoEco: Nanoparticles in the Environment Implications and Applications.” Organized by Empa (Switzerland), 2008.
• Tervonen, K., Waissi, G., Petersen, E. J., Akkanen, J., and Kukkonen, J. V. K. “Analysis of fullerene-C60 and kinetic measurements for its accumulation and depuration in Daphnia magna. 3rd International Conference on the Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials.” Birmingham, England, 2008.
• Waissi, G., Tervonen, K., Petersen, E. J., Akkanen, J., and Kukkonen, J. V. K. “Accumulation and depuration potential of fullerene C60 in the presence of dissolved natural organic matter (DNOM).” Daphnia magna. 3rd International Conference on the Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials. Birmingham, England, 2008.
• Lui, X., O’Carroll, D.M., Petersen, E. J., and Huang, Q., “Impact Of Size On Carbon Nanotube Transport In Natural Porous Media.” International Environmental Nanotechnology Conference, Chicago, IL, 2008.
• Lui, X., O’Carroll, D.M., Petersen, E. J., Huang, Q., and Anderson, L. “Mobility of Multi-walled carbon nanotubes in porous media.” 235th American Chemical Society Conference, 2008.
• Petersen, E.J., Huang, Q., and Weber, W. J., Jr. “Uptake and Depuration Behaviors of Radioactively Labeled Carbon Nanotubes by Lumbriculus variegatus.” 234th American Chemical Society Conference, 2007.