Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2009MA177B

Bacterial Toxicity of Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Adhesion

Institute: Massachusetts
Year Established: 2009 Start Date: 2009-04-01 End Date: 2010-03-31
Total Federal Funds: $9,952 Total Non-Federal Funds: $27,934

Principal Investigators: Baoshan Xing

Project Summary: Massachusetts houses a great number of companies and manufacturers, universities and institutes using and working in nanotechnology. Oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are a large group of nanomaterials widely applied in insulators, catalyzers, paints, cosmetic products, textiles and semiconductors. NPs will be eventually introduced into the aquatic environments because of their widespread production and application. However, there is still lack of information on the NPs toxicity to the aquatic organisms and their influence on water quality. Therefore the overall goal of the proposed study is to evaluate the toxicity of oxide NPs to the common bacteria species in the aquatic system and their adhesion at the bacteria-water interface. Specifically, we will 1) evaluate the bacterial toxicity of nano-, bulk-particles and their released metal ions, 2) determine the relationship of bacterial toxicity with the NPs adhesion on bacteria surface, and 3) probe into the bacterial surface bond formation and structural change/damage by NPs using various techniques. This research is closely related to the priority areas of Occurrence, fate, and transport of pollutant, and Ecological impacts as outlined in the WRRC Call for Proposals.