SEB Bulletin January 2008
Nanotechnology meets the Dinosaurs!
The Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry UK branch (SETAC-UK) and the Society for Experimental Biology (SEB) recently presented the “2nd International Conference on the Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials”. The meeting was hosted by the Natural History Museum in London, on the 24-25th September 2007, and was also supported by Nanonet (University of Birmingham), the Society for the Chemical Industry (SCI) and was sponsored by the Environment Agency, UK. This second meeting looked in more depth at the chemistry and environmental effects of these new materials. The chemistry theme was dominated by some key scientific questions such as how do these novel particles behave in the environment, and how can we measure them in complex matrices such as soil and water? The debate extended to aggregation chemistry and methods to disperse nanoparticles in aqueous phase, and whether or not this would impact on their fate and behaviour in the environment. The biological effects session took an overview of what was known about the effects on organisms.
The presentations ranged from bacteria, through invertebrates and fish, to plants. Our knowledge is still limited, but data sets on the effects on freshwater aquatic invertebrates and fish are emerging. Microbes in the environment are vital for ecosystem function and yet we still know little about the effects on environmentally relevant bacteria, even though some nanomaterials have been designed for their properties as a biocide, or as cleaning agents. We also know very little about the effects on plants, and there was some information indicating that some types of nanoparticles could affect unicellular freshwater algae. The third theme at the meeting was on risk assessment and policy. The core questions were the issues of how to collect data for risk assessments, interpretation of the risk of these materials compared to similar bulk chemicals, or other environmental pollutants.
The consensus view was that nanomaterials are already being used and it is inevitable that these materials will get into the environment. We just need to find some methods to measure them! Alternatively, natural nanoparticles have been around for millions of years, and perhaps life on earth has already adapted to living with nanoparticles? Natural nanoparticles are found in volcanic dust and may other natural materials, and recent reports suggest that nanoparticles were generated with meteor impacts at the end of the cretaceous period. So who knows, maybe nanoparticles contributed to the end of the dinosaurs! It is certainly fitting that the meeting was hosted by the Natural History Museum, which has long been the home of natural mineralogy and geochemistry. I would especially like to thank Dr Eva Valsami-Jones for hosting the event at the museum and making everything run so smoothly. Next year this SETAC/SEB meeting moves to Birmingham University, and will be hosted by Nanonet with the help of Dr Jamie Lead. So we look forward to seeing you in Birmingham on the 15-16th of September 2008!
Richard Handy
SETAC-UK Past President & Animal Section Chair of the SEB.
rhandy@plymouth.ac.uk
Delegates at work.
Conference Organisers, from the left; Dr Richard Owen (Environment Agency), Dr Richard Handy (SETAC/SEB, Plymouth University), Dr Eva Valsami-Jones (Natural History Museum), Dr Jamie Lead (Nanonet, University of Birmingham).