Characterization of Environmental Transformation, Exposure from Sediment, and Toxicity (E-TEST) for ZnO Nanomaterials in Natural Systems

The purpose of this project is to elucidate the modes of ZnO nanoparticle uptake in benthic invertebrates, namely Hyallela azteca. This is a collaborative project between Helen Poynton of U. Mass and Jason Unrine of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. In this project, Hyallela will be exposed to isotopically labelled ZnO nanoparticles in natural sediment. The UK portion of the project involves synthesis of the isotopically labelled particles, analysis of water samples, sediment samples and tissue samples for total Zn and 67Zn, and chemical and physical characterization of the particles, sediments, water and tissue samples. The U. Mass portion of the project is to perform the exposures, measure toxicological effects, and to elucidate the mechanisms of toxicity and uptake using next generation RNA sequencing. The project will support a graduate student at each institution. Marie Croteau of the USGS at Menlo Park will serve as a collaborator to assist with the isotopic labelling experiments.