NanoBioCar · Impacts of Nanoparticles on microphytobenthic Biofilms and consequences on the Carbon cycle
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2016-09-01 → 2019-04-09
- EU contribution
- €195,455
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Impacts of Nanoparticles on microphytobenthic Biofilms and consequences on the Carbon cycle
Nanoparticles are between 1 and 100 nanometres (billionth of metre) in size and due to their unique properties are being added to more and more consumer products, such as clothing and sunscreens. During their production and use nanoparticles are released in the aquatic environment, especially in coastal systems where they accumulate. Coasts are important ecosystems for human populations: they produce oxygen that we breathe, they provide food for fishes and shells, they are used as recreational areas… Coastal sediments host a large diversity of microorganisms that support several of these services, especially oxygen production, carbon trapping and recycling of nutrients that would otherwise pollute the water. This project aims to investigate the impact of nanoparticles on coastal microorganisms, the consequences of these impacts for the functioning of coastal systems, and therefore for human populations. We chose two types of nanoparticles: titanium oxide nanoparticles, that are the most produced nanoparticles, and one of the main components of sunscreens; and silver nanoparticles, which are the nanoparticles used in the wider range of products, such as clothing, medical material, food packaging, household appliances… Our aims were to determine: - how nanoparticles influence coastal microorganisms in near-natural conditions; - how nanoparticles influence oxygen, carbon and nutrient cycles in coastal zones; - whether these effects are dependent on the type of nanoparticle considered and of the season. We found that at current concentrations, these nanoparticles have limited impact on microorganisms and coastal ecosystem functions. However at higher concentrations, titanium oxide nanoparticles have the potential to limit the growth of microorganisms and alter their ability to produce oxygen and recycle nutrients. This toxicity appears after contact with the nanoparticles for several weeks, and is different between seasons.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Intertidal and shallow subtidal zones are key areas for biochemical transformations, and particularly they play a crucial zone in the carbon cycle. In soft-bottom areas, most primary production is performed by photosynthetic microorganisms organised in biofilms, and called microphytobenthos. The organic matter they produce is rapidly respired by bacteria or consumed by higher trophic levels. Together, microphytobenthos and bacteria realise most carbon transformation in these areas, and are therefore important groups to study in a view to understand carbon cycling in coastal zones. Coastal areas are currently under influence of numerous stressors linked to anthropogenic effects. The impacts of ‘well established’ pollutants, e.g. metals, oils, nitrogen, are fairly well understood; however there is now evidence that new compounds, products of advanced technology, have the potential to disrupt the environment. The aim of this project is to understand how a recently developed family of compounds, namely nanoparticles (NPs), influences the development of biofilms and their impact on the carbon cycle. NP concentrations are increasing dramatically in the environment, but their effect on organisms and ecosystems is currently poorly described. Yet, genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of NPs have been demonstrated, including on microorganisms. In this project, laboratory and field experiments will be performed to characterise the effects of NPs on microphytobenthos and bacteria, on their trophic interactions and on their roles in carbon and nutrient cycles. Two common types of NPs will be tested in a wide range of environmental conditions, to decipher in which conditions NPs are more or less harmful to organisms and processes. Such understanding will allow developing strategies to reduce the impacts of NPs and will be beneficial to environment and human well-being in EU and elsewhere.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX · ColchesterCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union