The fate and toxicity of nanoparticles in the terrestrial environment. This research aims to provide the knowledge needed to understand the fate and effects of new nanoparticulate metal products in Australian landscapes. The movement and environmental effects of manufactured nanoparticulates are unknown, partly because of the difficulty of measuring and detecting these nano-products in the environment. This project will develop techniques to identify manufactured nanoparticulate metals in soils, ....The fate and toxicity of nanoparticles in the terrestrial environment. This research aims to provide the knowledge needed to understand the fate and effects of new nanoparticulate metal products in Australian landscapes. The movement and environmental effects of manufactured nanoparticulates are unknown, partly because of the difficulty of measuring and detecting these nano-products in the environment. This project will develop techniques to identify manufactured nanoparticulate metals in soils, and to determine the potential adverse effects of these products on plants and soil organisms. This will indicate the need, if any, for controls on the disposal or dispersal of nano-sized metal products in the terrestrial environment.Read moreRead less
A surface functionality based approach for the risk assessment of manufactured nanomaterials in the environment. Manufactured nanoparticles are increasingly present in the environment yet their risk assessment is fraught with analytical challenges. This project will use customised nanoparticles with unique isotopic signatures and surface properties to circumvent key difficulties and support novel investigations into nanoparticle stability, fate and toxicity.
Addressing the uncertainties: Pathways, fate and associated risks of manufactured nanoparticles in the environment. Manufactured nanomaterials are increasingly present in commercial products, such as sunscreens, textiles and building materials. Their subsequent release to the environment is unavoidable. This project will deliver novel methods for assessing the associated risks, thereby supporting the safe and sustainable use of nanomaterials in Australia.
Functional characterisation of contaminant-nanoparticle associations. Nanoparticles present in the environment modify the movement and toxicity of contaminants. This project targets key gaps that hinder the ability to predict the fate and behaviour of environmental contaminants; this will lead to the optimisation of legislative framework and the management/remediation of contaminated sites (for example, mine sites, landfills).
The role of engineered nanoparticles in the transport of environmental contaminants and the implications for remediation. Engineered nanoparticles are common in the environment due to their widespread industrial use. However, their influence on contaminant mobility is not known. This project will advance our understanding of the interactions of nanoparticles with environmental contaminants and thereby deliver safer and more sustainable remediation technologies.