Contract Agreement: SIINN/0001/2014 Website: https://research.ce.cmu.edu/nanofarm/
Coordinator: Gregory Lowry (glowry@cmu.edu), Carnegie Mellon University
Table 1 Consortium List.
No. Beneficiary name Short name Country
1 Carnegie Mellon University CMU USA
2 University of Kentucky UKy USA
3 Universidade de Aveiro UAVR PT
4 University of Vienna UNIVIE A
Contents
1 Summary ... 20 2 Background ... 20 3 Scientific and technological challenges ... 21 4 Objectives ... 21
5 Organisation ... 21 6 Expected Impact ... 22 7 Directory ... 23 8 Copyright ... 23
1 Summary
Project Duration: 36 months (march 2016-february 2019) Project Funding: NSF, FCT and BMVIT/FFG
NanoFARM is a research consortium whose mission is to provide information to aid in safe development of effective and sustainable nano-agrochemicals. We're made up of researchers from Carnegie Mellon University, Aveiro University, University of Kentucky, and University of Vienna.
Manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) hold promise for increasing the sustainability of agriculture. Nanofertilizers and nanopesticides can improve the efficiency of agrochemical use and decrease energy and water requirements for food production. However, nano-enabled agrochemical formulations need to be developed safely. This requires a fundamental understanding of the factors influencing the fate and effects of nano-enabled agrochemicals.
NanoFARM research will determine how agricultural MNM properties and applied concentration affect their:
Persistence in the environment;
Bioaccumulation by tomato and wheat plants and trophic transfer to terrestrial organisms;
Toxicity and multigenerational effects on soil organisms and potential for ecological impacts;
Analytical methods will be developed to track and characterize MNMs in soil at realistic concentrations, and
Test guidelines will be developed for assessing the bioavailability of nano-enabled agrochemicals using simple protocols and standardized reporting formats.
2 Background
The proposed study is aligned with Topic 4 “Environmental Impacts of MNMs” and Topic 1 “Exposure Assessment”. It addresses multiple aspects of each of those topical areas. In particular, we address long-term exposures and bioaccumulation of MNMs in biotic and abiotic compartments of agricultural soil systems. We focus on use “hot spots” and both the use phase and
“end-of-life” aspects of MNMs in agricultural chemicals since the
“end of life” for these products is aging in those soils. Importantly, we track changes in the product over time and assess impacts of concentration on fate and effects. We develop and test methods to track MNMs in soils, and to distinguish them (and metal ions derived from them) from natural background. We identify the factors that most impact distribution in soil, bioavailability, plant uptake, and toxicity into appropriate environmental species directly from soils, and for real products. This allows us to make links between data collected in well-controlled laboratory systems, to more complex environment while maintaining sufficient control over experimental parameters to determine how MNM properties and product formulations impact their fate and effects. We
develop methods to detect Cu- and Zn-based MNMs in soils and soil pore waters, using methods that preserve the native speciation of the materials. The knowledge gained here will be used to prevent adverse multigenerational impacts during long-term exposure from use of MNM-based fertilizers and pesticides through better product designs that can improve efficacy and decrease unwanted environmental effects. Finally, we develop a robust assay for the prediction of bioavailability and toxicity of Cu- and Zn-based MNMs in agrochemicals. The proposed work also addresses Topic 3 “Effects of MNMs on human health” by assessing the factors the result in uptake of MNMs into plant tissues, the speciation of the MNMs in those tissues, and therefore the potential for human exposure to MNMs through the food supply. We address elements of Topic 2 “toxicity mechanisms”
through genomic testing and assessment of multigenerational long-term effects using “realistic“ MNMs in real exposure scenarios.
3 Scientific and technological challenges
While development of nano-enabled agricultural chemicals is proceeding apace, properties of these manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) in the environment make predicting their fate in soils impossible using the risk assessment framework for traditional chemicals. This project will modify the existing fate modelling paradigms by systematically determining how agricultural MNM properties, applied concentration, spatial distribution and temporal behaviour in different soil types, influence MNM uptake by important crop plants, toxicity, multigenerational effects on soil organisms, bioaccumulation/trophic transfer, and potential for ecological impacts. We will also develop necessary methods to track and characterize MNMs in soil at realistic concentrations, and develop a simple test for measuring dissolution rate and distribution between soil pore water and solids to predict the observed fate and effects, key assays for validating theoretical relationships developed herein.
4 Objectives
The goal of this project is to address essential gaps in knowledge about how soil properties, MNM properties, MNM concentration, and reaction kinetics affect the spatial and temporal behaviour of metal-oxide MNM-enabled pesticides and fertilizers in soils.
Specifically, we will assess how these variables influence 1) transformation and distribution in soils (WP 2), toxicity and multigenerational effects on soil organisms (WP 3), bioaccumulation/trophic transfer (WP 4), phytoavailability (WP 5), and therefore the potential for ecological impacts or human exposures from consumption of key food crops (Tomato and Wheat). This project will provide guidance on modifying existing OECD assays for chemical fate in soils to measure MNM dissolution rate and distribution in soils to predict the observed fate and effects (WP 6) and develop novel methods to track and characterize MNMs in soils at realistic concentrations (WP 7).
5 Organisation
Integrated research tasks are used to determine the MNM properties that most affect their fate and effects in agriculture soils. Coordinated studies will use well-characterized soils and nanoparticles, along with soil extraction procedures to provide consistent and comparable datasets. The developed extraction procedures will serve as the basis for OECD test guidelines for MNMs used as agrochemicals.
Several work packages will run in an integrated way and shown below. This integration is provided within WP7- Characterization of NMNs in complex matrix (soil, soil pore waters, tissues) which is not shown in the diagram. This work package led by UNIVIE is integral to ALL work packages as it provides analytical support of the experiments, especially at low MNM concentration. The block in the lower left of the figure shows the lead and participating institutions for each work package.
The NanoFARM project addresses essential gaps in knowledge about how the soil properties, MNM properties, applied concentration, and aging time, affect the spatial and temporal behaviour of Cu- and Zn-based oxide/hydroxide-based pesticides and fertilizers in soils, and how the spatial and temporal behaviour affects toxicity, bioavailability and trophic transfer to selected plants and soil organisms. Specifically, we assess how MNM properties, product formulation, and soil conditions influence 1) transformation and distribution in soils (WP 2), toxicity and multigenerational effects on soil organisms (WP 3), bioaccumulation and trophic transfer (WP 4), and uptake by plants (WP 5), and therefore the potential for ecological impacts or human exposures due to consumption of food from key food crops (tomato and wheat). In addressing these gaps, we will modify existing OECD assays for chemical fate in soils (WP 6) to measure dissolution rate and distribution between pore water and soils to predict the observed fate and effects measured in WPs 2, 3, 4, and 5, and develop novel methods to track and characterize MNMs in soils at realistic concentrations (WP 7).
WP 1. Synthesis and material and soil characterization. The goal of WP 1 is to ensure that all consortia members will have fully characterized MNMs, MNM-enhanced products, and soils.
Deliverables include fully characterized starting materials and all characterization data, characteristics of soils made available to all WPs, and delivery of labelled material to all WPs.
WP 2 Assessment of reactivity and chemical availability of MNMs in agricultural soil. The goal of WP 2 is to determine the effects of MNM properties and soil properties on the fate and spatial distribution of MNMs in soils and pore. Results will be used to determine mechanisms of MNM toxicity and bioavailability.
Deliverables include primary data, and peer reviewed publications on chemical availability of MNMs in soils, how soils properties impact this availability, and factors influencing attachment of each MNM to soils.
WP 3 Toxicity and mutigenerational effects of MNMs soils containing MNMs and MNM-enhanced products. The goal of this WP is to assess the toxicity of Cu- and Zn-based MNMs to Folsomia candida, Porcellionides pruinosus and Caenorhabditis elegans and multigenerational effects (F. candida and C. elegans). This WP will provide the toxicity data and foundation for the bioaccumulation studies (WP4). Deliverables include primary data on toxicity, and peer-reviewed publications on the toxicity of the MNMs, impact of the product matrix on toxicity, and multigenerational effects due to prolonged exposures.
WP 4 Bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of MNMs in invertebrates. The goal of this WP is to develop a valid approach to assess the bioaccumulation potential of MNMs in soils by plants and invertebrates. The data will be used to validate the test protocol to measure distribution of MNMs between soil and pore water and the dissolution rate. Deliverables include the data on bioaccumulation to other WPs, and peer reviewed scientific papers on bioaccumulation of MNMs from soils in P. pruinosus, biodynamic modelling of trophic transfer P. pruinosus and M. sexta,
and on biodistribution of MNMs and metals in tissues of these organisms.
WP 5 Key properties of soil environment and MNM which determine phytoavailability. The goal of this WP is to determine how concentration, and the properties of the MNM, soil, and product matrix impact the phytoavailability of MNMs. Deliverables include data on the tissue concentrations of MNMs and metals in different plant components, and peer-reviewed publications on uptake of MNMs in to tomato and wheat plants from soil exposures, uptake of MNMs from MNM-enabled products applied to soils, and uptake of MNMs in plants via foliar applications.
WP 6. Development of a testing guideline for predicting bioavailability and toxicity.The goal of this WP is to assess the ability of simple assays with LUFA (model) soils to predict MNM fate(WP2), toxicity (WP 3), bioaccumulation (WP4), and phytoavailability (WP 5) of MNMs. Deliverables include four peer-reviewed publications on methods and guidance to the OECD about test guideline for predicting fate and effects of MNMs in soils.
WP 7. Characterization of NMNs in complex matrix (soil, soil pore waters, tissues). The goal of this WP is to develop the necessary analytical tools for the characterization and tracing of Cu- and Zn-based NMNs in complex samples as soils and tissues at realistic environmental concentrations. Deliverables include new methods for characterizing MNMs in soils and other relevant biological matrices (e.g. plant tissues), methods to quantify Cu & Zn MNMs in model soils and tissues with SP-ICPMS and FFF-ICPMS, and data analysis for selected samples from other WPs.
6 Expected Impact
The project outcomes are highly aligned with the goals of the 3rd SIINN Call. In particular, the proposed study will provide general principles that affect bioavailability and toxicity of MNMs in soils, expressed in mathematical terms. We assess the effects of concentration (dose) and MNM properties on fate and toxicity, which are relevant to a broad range of systems. We assess the behaviour of “real” MNMs within their product formulation and at realistic applied doses to soils. We provide guidance for OECD tests for assessing MNM dissolution rate and distribution between pore water and soil, and to track MNMs in soils will find high utility for other materials and systems. The proposed framework will assess the ability to use extrinsic environmental properties in soil to predict behaviors of MNMs in soils. Moreover, it will relate these properties back to the intrinsic properties of the MNMs (e.g.
size and crystal structure) to provide information for better selection of MNM properties for products. Finally, we will determine if MNMs made from soft metal cations can be considered as a “group” to classify MNMs in terms of their environmental fate in soils, and determine methods to efficiently analyse them in soils and other matrices, even at high bulk soil background concentrations by separation and single particle ICP-MS.
7 Directory
Table 1 Directory of people involved in this project.
First Name Last Name Affiliation Address e-mail
Gregory Lowry CMU USA glowry@cmu.edu
Xiaoyu Gao CMU USA xiaoyug@andrew.cmu.edu
Eleanor Spielman-Sun CMU USA espielma@andrew.cmu.edu
Jason Unrine UKy USA jason.unrine@uky.edu
Olga Tsyuskso UKy USA olga.tsyusko@uky.edu
Jieran Li UKy USA jli295@uky.edu
Anye Wamucho UKy USA
Susana Loureiro UAVR PT sloureiro@ua.pt
Rui Morgado UAVR PT ruimorgado@ua.pt
Maria Pavlaki UAVR PT maria.pavlaki@ua.pt
Joana Neves UAVR PT jtneves@ua.pt
Sónia Rodrigues UAVR PT smorais@ua.pt
Sónia Lopes UAVR PT sonialopes@ua.pt
Nuno Cruz UAVR PT
Frank von der Kammer UNIVIE A frank.von.der.kammer@univie.ac.at
Melanie Kah UNIVIE A melanie.kah@univie.ac.at
Adam Laycock UNIVIE A adam.laycock@univie.ac.at
8 Copyright
© 2017, Carnegie Mellon University, USA on behalf of the NanoFARM consortium.
NanoFARM is an ERA NET SIINN project under the European Commission's FP7 ERA-NET on Nanosafety Safe Implementation of Innovative Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (SIINN) Programme.
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