Engineered NP in the environment

Fate and behavior of engineered NP in the environment

Nanoparticles are used in plenty of consumer products and there is no doubt that these NP will find their way into the aquatic environment sooner or later. The effects of the ENP in the environment, however, are still largely unknown. In a preliminary study we have shown that TiO2 (ordinary whitening pigments) from facades are released during rain events and are directly discharged into the receiving waters. The same hold true for other NP applied in the outdoor environment, such as nano-Ag, used in paints as replacements / alternatives to organic biocides. Apart from that diffusive input, the waste water treatment plants could act as major point sources (or sinks) for ENP. In a case study, we are investigating the fate of Ag-NP in a pilot scale WWTP using a combination of microscopic and spectroscopic methods.