Repercussion of Carbon Based Manufactured Nanoparticles on Microbial Processes in Environmental Systems
Project Information
| Principal Investigator | Ronald Turco |
| Institution | Purdue University |
| Project URL | View |
| Relevance to Implications | High |
| Class of Nanomaterial | Engineered Nanomaterials |
| Impact Sector | Environment |
| Broad Research Categories |
Hazard Generation, Dispersion, Transformation etc. |
| NNI identifier |
Funding Information
| Country | USA |
| Anticipated Total Funding | $335,000.00 |
| Annual Funding | $111,666.67 |
| Funding Source | EPA |
| Funding Mechanism | Extramural |
| Funding Sector | Government |
| Start Year | 2004 |
| Anticipated End Year | 2007 |
Abstract/Summary
The use of nanotechnology has tremendous potential for economic growth and is a key feature of sustainable development. Despite the impending increase in industrial production and the certain releases of Carbon Based Manufactured Nanoparticles (CMNP) to the environment, almost nothing is known about their environmental impact. In order to engage in a publicly transparent evaluation of risks and benefits, and to develop public policy and technology to manage potential risks, fundamental scientific environmental research must be completed. The goal of this proposal is to provide fundamental information about the impact of CMNP on water, soil and subsurface ecosystems.
Objective:
Objective 1: We propose there will be a shift in the structure of soil microbial populations in systems exposed to CMNP as the nanomaterial will exert pressure on the microbial population.
Approach: The intrinsic features describing activity will be estimated in four ways. We will: 1) draw information from the ratio of key fatty acids taken from the phospholipid fatty acids fraction (PLFA) and relate it to a background status of the soil microbial populations; 2) use genetic approaches, e.g., density gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) with both bacterial and fungal primers; 3) use enzyme assays for dehydrogenase, urease, cellubiase; and 4) use respiration and trapping of CO2 to estimate aerobic activity in the presence of the CMNP.
Objective 2: The long-term fate of CMNP in the environment and their entrance into soil and aquatic biogeochemical cycles will mostly be a function of the activity of the specific oxygenase, ligninase, laccase, and fenton systems resident in microbial populations.
Approach: Using 13C-fullerenes in soil microcosm studies outlined in Hypothesis 1, we will track CMNP carbon to determine how the soil microbial biomass responds to CMNP. We will also assess the degree to which CMNP carbon is assimilated into microbial biomass, or is converted to a form bound with soil carbon. Additionally, we will inoculate various litter forms (wood and leaves) spiked with 13C-labeled fullerene with aggressive decay fungi where our goal is to assess the degree to which CMNP carbon is assimilated into fungal biomass or converted to functionalized forms (free and bound).
Objective 3: Water-borne CMNP represent an, as yet, unassessed toxicological risk to aquatic organisms because of their capacity to physically interact with cell membranes possibly causing harm to the cells.
Approach: We will use a lux-gfp based assay to estimate the impact of the CMNP on the processes of respiration and growth, allowing us to arrive at the first CMNP structure-to-microbial function model. This objective will involve monitoring bacterial bioluminescence to evaluate the impact of CMNP (amount or structure) on bacterial response in aqueous systems.
Expected Results:
The expected results of this proposed research are very substantial. The knowledge gained from our research will be used by governments and industry for developing public policy and technology for the management of any environmental risks from CMNP. The research can be integrated with educational programs and used to disseminate knowledge about the behavior of nano-materials.
