# Presentation: 319882

## Fate, Transport, Transformation, and Toxicity of Nanomaterials in Conventional Drinking Water Treatment Processes

- Yongsheng Chen, Paul Westernhoff, John C. Crittenden, and *David Capco
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- *Department of Biology
- Arizona State University

**Email: yschen@asu.edu**

**Notes:**
This is not a talk about something that we researched and are now going to provide research results.   This is a talk about a problem that we have begun to understand the enormity of the issues that need to be resolved.  I do not know much about it 

## Manufacturing activities [1,2,3]

- Market
- By 2005 and 2015, the global market for nanoparticles will be close to $ 1 billion and $1 trillion dollars respectively.
- Engaged Companies
- More than 140 companies
- 54 companies are making nanotube carbons;
- at least 20 companies are producing hundreds of tons of fullerenes annually)
- Synthesized Nanomaterials
- At least 44 elements in the Periodic Table are being synthesized in Nanoscaled organic and inorganic compounds
- Nanotubes (carbon nanotubes and metal oxide nanotubes),
-  nanoclays (clay particles),
- quantum dots

## Applications

- Toothpaste
- Sunscreens (TiO2, ZnO nanoparticles)
- Nanofiber clothes;
- In situ remediation and treatments;
- Catalysts
- Sensors
- Drug delivery (using proteins to drugs to targeted area of the body)

## Toxicity

- Potential passageways to human body [1,4, 5]
- Lung
- In vivo studies demonstrate that TiO2 nanoparticles can produce inflammation in lungs of lab animals;
- In vitro studies show that TiO2 nanoparticles could produce free radicals that can cause cellular damage.
- Digestive track
- Nanoparticles are able to be uptaken by cells and to gain access to the blood stream, distributing to the organs in the body.
- The most recent results show that nanoscale buckyballs cause brain tissue damage in largemouth bass and they are also toxic to the “water flea”
- Skin
- Nanoparticles can get deep into skin and be taken up into the lymphatic system.

## Figure 1. Developed by Ken Raniere [6]

## Proposed Tasks

- Characterize the fundamental properties of nanomaterials in aquatic environments;
- Examine the interactions between nanomaterials and toxic pollutants and viruses;
- Evaluate the removal efficiency of nanomaterials by sand filtration process;
- Test the toxicity of nanomaterials in drinking water using cell culture model system of the epithelium.

## TiO2 Nanotubes Synthesized in our Group

## Slide 8

## Figure 4. Filtration application schematic

**Figure 4.** Filtration application schematic

## Potential Sites of Nanoparticle Absorption

## 	Cellular Models: Toxicity Assays 				1) Trans-epithelial Resistance Assays.2) Structural and Metabolic Assays (including live/dead analysis, calcium levels analysis, junctional complex analysis, and oxidative stress analysis).3) Trans-epithelial transport of nanomaterials to assess biological function of the epithelium.

## Expected Results

- Provide fundamental information about the fate, transport and transformation of nanomaterials in the drinking water resources
- Provide the first evidence that such nanomaterials can or cannot be removed by conventional drinking water treatment processes.
- An improved toxicity assessment will be developed for the potential exposure risks of nanomaterials in drinking water.
- This research would ultimately provide essential information that would support policy and decision-making regarding handling, disposal, and management of nanomaterials in commerce, manufacturing and the environment.

## References

- (1) ETC Group, Occasional Paper Series, 7**, **1 (2003)
- (2) Business Wire, Inc., “Altair Nanotechnologies Awarded Patent for its Nano-sized Titanium Dioxide,” Sept. 4, 2002
- (3) Bucher J., presentation at the symposium, “Nanotechnology and the Environment,” American Chemical Society  meeting in New Orleans, LA, March 23, 2003
- (4) Morgan, M. Granger, Baruch Fischhoff, Ann Bostrom, and Cynthia J. Atman. 2002. Risk Communication: A Mental Models Approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- (5) Gumbleton M, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 49: 281 –300 (2001)
- (6) Masciangioli T.; Wei-Xian Zhang, Environ. Sci. Technol. 102A (March 1, 2003)