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Probing the toxicity of engineered nanomaterials

Nanomaterials

Probing the toxicity of engineered nanomaterials in aquatic environments

Researcher: Michael Mitzel, Nathalie Tufenkji

Key highlights:

  • Release of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) into aquatic environments is a risk to water safety and environmental health.
  • Little is known about a microorganism’s immediate avoidance behavior when exposed to nanoparticulate contaminants.
  • Swimming avoidance of the freshwater algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was observed after the exposure to a gradient of silver nanoparticles (nAg) in a microfluidics device.
  • The observed rapid avoidance swimming response indicates that organisms may be able to sense and avoid certain contaminants at exposure.
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