Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID VA 2025 McCallister

From Nano to Macro: Evaluating Carbon Nanotubes as Ecological Disruptors in the James River Ecosystem

Institute: Virginia
Year Established: 2025 Start Date: 2026-01-01 End Date: 2026-12-31
Total Federal Funds: $9,596 Total Non-Federal Funds: $9,596

Principal Investigators: S. Leigh McCallister

Project Summary: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are emerging engineered nanomaterials increasingly used in industrial, biomedical, and environmental applications, yet their fate and impacts in aquatic ecosystems remain poorly understood. Despite their growing prevalence, relatively little is known about the fate and potential ecotoxicological impacts of CNTs once they enter natural aquatic ecosystems. This proposal aims to (1) quantify CNT-induced cellular stress via reactive oxygen species, (2) trace CNT-derived carbon in zooplankton and assess its microbial degradation using a unique ???C signature, and (3) evaluate how CNTs affect lipid profiles across trophic levels. We will conduct controlled microcosm experiments with CNT additions to assess sublethal effects on planktonic communities, focusing on ecosystem metabolism and organism health. Outcomes of this study will help inform regulatory and management decisions by providing insights into the environmental persistence of CNTs and their sublethal effects on aquatic organisms and overall ecosystem productivity.