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The presence of nanoplastics (NPs) in various products and from the weathering of released plastic materials are of concern for the environment's safety. The purpose of this study was to examine the biophysical effects of polystyrene NPs on freshwater mussels. Mussels were exposed to a range of concentrations of NPs (0.1, 0.5, 1, and 5 mg/L) for 24 h and allowed to depurate for 12 h in clean aquarium water. The digestive gland was isolated and analyzed for NPs, lipids, viscosity, protein aggregation, anisotropic changes (liquid crystals: LCs), and the oscillatory modulation in viscosity during the formation of self-organizing enzyme complex of fumarase, malate dehydrogenase, and citrate synthase. The results revealed that mussels accumulated NPs in the digestive gland and their levels were significantly correlated with lipids levels, LCs, the increase in the malate dehydrogenase/citrate synthase activity ratio, and oscillations in viscosity. Protein aggregation was also found to be correlated with lipid levels. The data suggests that the presence of NPs in the digestive gland involves changes in lipid content and LC formation and perturbs the normal oscillations in viscosity during sequential enzyme reactions of the above enzymes. It is concluded that the uptake of NPs in cells could disrupt the internal organization of cells which can interfere with the normal association of enzymes involved in energy metabolism.

Nanomaterials could be modified with various coatings which could modulate their behavior in the environment, bioavailability and toxicity. The purpose of this study was to determine if the selected coatings of silver nanoparticles (nAg) could influence the fate, bioavailability, and toxicity toward suspension feeding freshwater mussels, Elliptio complanata. Mussels were exposed for 96 h to 50 μg/L of nAg with the following surface coatings: citrate, silicate (Si), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and branched polyethylenimine (bPEI). After the exposure period, mussels were analyzed for total Ag, resistance to air emersion, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and autophagosome protein uptake (protein ubiquitinylation) in gills and digestive glands. The data revealed that citrate- and PVP-coated nAg were 2 times more abundant in the digestive gland compared to bPEI- and Si-coated nAg with estimated bioaccumulation factors between 5 and 10. The data revealed that tissue Ag levels were closely associated with air survival time, weight loss during air exposure, DNA strand breaks, LPO, and protein-ubiquitin levels in the digestive gland. The data supports the hypothesis that the coatings could influence bioavailability and toxicity in freshwater mussels.

The release of engineered nanoparticles in the aquatic environment could pose a threat to the biota. The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of surface water characteristics on zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) and ZnS04 toxicity to the freshwater mussel Dreissena polymorpha. Mussels were exposed to an equivalent concentration of 25 μg/L Zn as either nZnO or ZnSO4 for 96 h at 15 °C in 4 types of surface waters: green water (high conductivity and pH with low natural organic matter content), brown water (low conductivity and pH with high natural organic matter content), diluted municipal effluent (high conductivity and pH with high urban organic matter content) and aquarium water (treated green water with organic matter removed). After the exposure period, mussels were analyzed for air-time survival, total and labile Zn levels in tissues, lipid metabolism (phospholipase A2, triglycerides levels) and oxidative stress (glutathione S-transferase, arachidonate cyclooxygenase, lipid peroxidation). The data revealed that mussels exposed to ZnSO4 in controlled aquarium water accumulated more total and labile Zn tissues, decreased oxidative stress and triglycerides and increased air time survival. While nZnO had few effects in aquarium water, oxidative stress was enhanced and total Zn in tissues were decreased in brown water and diluted municipal effluent and triglycerides were higher in nZn-exposed mussels in brown water. Air-time survival was decreased in mussels kept in green water and nZnO. It was also decreased in mussels exposed to ZnSO4 in green water and diluted municipal effluent. In conclusion, the fate and toxic effects of Zn could be influenced by both the chemical form (nanoparticles or ionic Zn) and surface water properties in freshwater mussels.

The toxicological effects of nanoparticles mixtures in aquatic organisms are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the tissue metal loadings and sublethal effects of silver (nAg), cerium oxide (nCeO), copper oxide (nCuO) and zinc oxide (nZnO) nanoparticles individually at 50 &micro, g/L and in two mixtures to freshwater mussels Dreissena bugensis. The mixtures consisted of 12.5 &micro, g/L of each nanoparticle (Mix50) and 50 &micro, g/L of each nanoparticles (Mix200). After a 96-h exposure period, mussels were analyzed for morphological changes, air time survival, bioaccumulation, inflammation (cyclooxygenase or COX activity), lipid peroxidation (LPO), DNA strand breaks, labile Zn, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and protein&ndash, ubiquitin levels. The data revealed that mussels accumulated the nanoparticles with nCeO and nAg were the least and most bioavailable, respectively. Increased tissue metal loadings were observed for nCeO and nCuO in mixtures, while no mixture effects were observed for nAg and nZnO. The weight loss during air emersion was lower in mussels exposed to nCuO alone but not by the mixture. On the one hand, labile Zn levels was increased with nZnO but returned to control values with the Mix50 and Mix200, suggesting antagonism. On the other hand, DNA strand breaks were reduced for both mixtures compared to controls or to the nanoparticles individually, suggesting potentiation of effects. The same was found for protein&ndash, ubiquitin levels, which were decreased by nCeO and nCuO alone but not when in mixtures, which increased their levels. In conclusion, the data revealed that the behavior and effects of nanoparticles were influenced by other nanoparticles where antagonist and potentiation interactions were identified.

Recent studies underline the potential health risks associated to the "nano" revolution, particularly for the workers who handle engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) that can be found in the formulation of several commercial products. Although many HealthSafety agencies recommend the use of protective gloves against chemicals, few studies have investigated the effectiveness of these gloves towards nanoparticle suspensions. Moreover, the data that are available are often contradictory. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of protective gloves against nanoparticles in suspension. For this purpose, a new methodology was developed in order to take into account parameters encountered in the workplace such as mechanical deformations (MD) that simulate hand flexion and sweat. The effects of the precise experimental protocol on the concentrations of nanoparticles that were detected in the sampling suspension were assessed. Several samples of nitrile rubber gloves (73 µm thick), taken from different boxes, were brought into contact with gold nanoparticles (5 nm) in water. During their exposure to ENPs, the glove samples submitted systematic mechanical deformations and were placed in contact with a physiological solution simulating human sweat. Under these conditions, results obtained by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) showed that the 5 nm gold nanoparticles passed through the protective gloves. This result was acquired, in spite of the observation of significant losses during the sampling phase that will be important for future experiments evaluating the effectiveness of these materials.

The occurrence of nanoplastic particles (NPs) in the environment has raised concerns about the ecotoxicological risk to aquatic ecosystems. The purpose of this study was to examine the bioavailability and toxicity of 50- and 100-nm transparent polystyrene NPs to the cnidarian Hydra attenuata. The hydras were exposed to increasing concentrations of 50- and 100-nm NPs (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/L) for 96 h at 20 °C followed by a 24-h depuration step. Hydras were analyzed for morphological changes, bioaccumulation of NPs using a novel assay for polystyrene NPs, oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation), polar lipids, lipid-like liquid crystals (LCs), and viscosity changes in the post-mitochondrial fraction. The results revealed that the organisms accumulated detectable amounts of NP in a concentration-dependent manner for both the 50- and 100-nm NP that persisted after 24 h in clean media. Changes in morphology were observed with a 50% effect concentration of 3.6 and 18 mg/L for the 50- and 100-nm-diameter NPs respectively. However, based on the particle concentration, the 100 nm proved to be 1.7 times more toxic than the 50-nm NPs. Exposure to NPs led to decreased biomass, lipid peroxidation (LPO), increased polar lipid levels, viscosity, and formation of LCs at the intracellular level. In the more toxic NP (100 nm), NPs in tissues were correlated with LCs, polar lipids, and LPO levels. It appears that the formation of organized LCs and polar lipids of NPs in cells was involved with NP toxicity and could represent a yet unidentified, detoxifying/bioactivation mechanism against colloidal plastics in cells. In conclusion, NPs are bioavailable to hydra and lead to LPO and lipid mobilization in hydra. The capacity of increasing lipid mobilization and LCs could determine the size-dependence toxicity of NPs.

Silver nanoparticles (nAg) are often produced with different coatings that could influence bioavailability and toxicity in aquatic organisms. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of 4 surface coatings of nAg of the same core size towards bioavailability and toxicity in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Juveniles were exposed to 50 μg/L of 50 nm diameter nAg for 96 h at 15 °C with the following coatings: branched polyethylenimine (bPEI), citrate, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and silicate (Si). The data revealed that the coatings influenced hepatic Ag loadings in the following trend PVP > citrate > bPEI and Si with estimated bioavailability factors of 28, 18, 6 and 2 L/kg respectively. Hepatic Ag levels were significantly associated with DNA damage and inflammation as determined by arachidonate cyclooxygenase activity. The bPEI and citrate-coated nAg consistently produced the observed effects above in addition to increased mitochondrial electron transport activity and glutathione S-transferase activity. The absence of metallothionein and lipid peroxidation suggests that mechanisms other than the liberation of Ag+ were at play. In conclusion, surface coatings were shown to significantly influence bioavailability and toxic properties of nAg to rainbow trout juveniles.

The question about the influence of the geometry of silver nanoparticle (nAg) towards toxicity in aquatic organisms is largely unanswered. The purpose of this study was to examine if different geometries of nAg could initiate biophysical stress in the soft tissues of mussels. Freshwater Dreissenna bugensis mussels were exposed for 48 h at 15 °C to 10 and 50 μg/L of ionic Ag and to 3 forms of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated nAg of similar size: sphere, cube and prism. At the end of the exposure period, mussels were allowed to depurate overnight and the post-mitochondrial fraction of the soft tissues were analyzed for the levels of liquid crystals (LCs), changes in the activity and fractal dimensions of pyruvate kinase-lactate dehydrogenase (PK-LDH), F-actin and protein-ubiquitin (UB) levels. The data revealed that exposure to nAg forms lead to increased formation of LCs in increasing order of intensity: prismatic > cubic > spherical nAg. The activity in PK-LDH was decreased by all forms of nAg but not by ionic Ag+ (as with the following effects). Fractal kinetics of the PK-LDH system revealed that the nAg forms increased the spectral dimension (sD) in increasing order: spherical > cubic > prismatic nAg. A decrease in the fractal diffusion rate (fDR) with small changes in the fractal dimension (fD) was also obtained. The levels of F-actin and protein-UB were significantly affected for most forms of nAg and followed a pattern similar to LCs levels. In conclusion, the geometry of nAg could influence the formation of LCs, alter the fractal kinetics of the PK-LDH system, F-actin levels and protein damage in the soft tissues of freshwater mussels.

Bacias hidrográficas caracterizam-se por apresentar áreas drenadas por um corpo hídrico e seus afluentes, onde a dinâmica desse corpo d’água relaciona-se diretamente com a topografia, vegetação, tipo de solo, índice pluviométrico e atividades antrópicas desenvolvidas no ambiente. Devido a isto, este trabalho tem como objetivo demonstrar os impactos gerados pela presença de uma Pequena Central Hidrelétrica e de área turística aos seus arredores, bem como algumas medidas de recuperação e estabilização da área que circunda o Rio Fortaleza, via estudo de caso do uso e ocupação do solo, em área do município de Taquaruçu do Sul/RS. Para está realização foi levantado dados de áreas, através de visita a campo, levantamento fotográfico e por meio do Google Earth. As propostas para controle dos impactos no rio, gerados pela ocupação antrópica e PCH na área, são a implantação de faixa de área de preservação permanente, estabilização de taludes e a instalação de lixeiras em área de fins turísticos. Sendo assim, para um manejo adequado de uma bacia hidrográfica se faz necessário o desenvolvimento de atividades em equilíbrio com o meio ambiente, possibilitando o desenvolvimento socioeconômico dos habitantes e respeitando a capacidade de suporte do ecossistema.

The characterization of nanomaterials represents a complex analytical challenge due to their dynamic nature (small size, high reactivity, and instability) and the low concentrations in the environment, often below typical analytical detection limits. Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) is especially useful for the characterization of small nanoparticles (1-10 nm), which are often the most problematic for the commonly used techniques such as electron microscopy or dynamic light scattering. In this study, small polymeric nanomaterials (allospheres) that are used commercially to facilitate the distribution of pesticides in agricultural fields were characterized under a number of environmentally relevant conditions. Under most of the studied conditions, the allospheres were shown to have a constant hydrodynamic diameter (dH) of about 7.0 nm. Only small increases in diameter were observed, either at low pH or very high ionic strength or hardness, demonstrating their high physicochemical stability (and thus high mobility in soils). Furthermore, natural organic matter had little effect on the hydrodynamic diameters of the allospheres. The concentration of the nanoparticles was an important parameter influencing their agglomeration-results obtained using dynamic light scattering at high particle concentrations showed large agglomerate sizes and significant particle losses through sedimentation, clearly indicating the importance of characterizing the nanomaterials under environmentally relevant conditions.

a b s t r a c t Nanoparticles (NPs) are engineered in the nanoscale (

Single particle ICPMS (SP-ICPMS) is becoming a very promising technique for nanoparticle detection and characterization, especially at very low concentrations (~10(-12)-10(-10) M). Nonetheless, the ability of the technique to detect smaller nanoparticles is presently limited by the setting of threshold values for the discrimination of nanoparticles from the dissolved metal background. In this study, a new approach to attaining lower particle size detection limits has been developed by the online coupling of an ion exchange column (IEC) with SP-ICPMS (IEC-SP-ICPMS). The IEC effectively removes the continuous signal of dissolved metal, allowing for both lower detection limits and an improved resolution of solutions containing multiple particles. The feasibility and the efficiency of this coupling were investigated using silver nanoparticles in the presence of various concentrations of Ag(+) and other major ions (Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Na(+), K(+), and Cl(-)). The online elimination of the dissolved metal made data processing simpler and more accurate. Following the addition of 1 to 4 μg L(-1) of Ag(+) spikes, symmetric particle size distributions were obtained using IEC-SP-ICPMS, whereas the use of SP-ICPMS alone led to asymmetric distributions, especially for nanoparticle sizes below 60 nm. Although this proof of principle study focused on nanosilver, the technique should be particularly useful for any of the metal based nanoparticles with high solubilities.

Inflammation is a physiological process that repairs tissues in response to endogenous or exogenous aggressions. Nevertheless, a chronic state of inflammation may have detrimental consequences. Aging is associated with increased levels of circulating cytokines and proinflammatory markers. Aged-related changes in the immune system, known as immunosenescence, and increased secretion of cytokines by adipose tissue, represent the major causes of chronic inflammation. This phenomenon is known as "inflamm-aging." High levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, and C-reactive protein are associated in the older subject with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. In particular, cohort studies have indicated TNF-α and IL-6 levels as markers of frailty. The low-grade inflammation characterizing the aging process notably concurs at the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying sarcopenia. In addition, proinflammatory cytokines (through a variety of mechanisms, such as platelet activation and endothelial activation) may play a major role in the risk of cardiovascular events. Dysregulation of the inflammatory pathway may also affect the central nervous system and be involved in the pathophysiological mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders (eg, Alzheimer disease).The aim of the present review was to summarize different targets of the activity of proinflammatory cytokines implicated in the risk of pathological aging.

The effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on terrestrial ecosystems need to be better understood and assessed. Cationic silver (Ag+) has well-documented toxicity against bacteria, but it is not clear what will be the effect of nanoscale Ag. In the present study, the potential effects of AgNPs were investigated in soils by measuring activity of the enzymes phosphomonoesterase, arylsulfatase, β-D-glucosidase, and leucine-aminopeptidase. The toxicity of AgNPs was compared with that of ionic Ag, and the ameliorating effects of soil organic matter were evaluated. To this end, 2 soils with different organic matter contents were artificially contaminated with either AgNPs or Ag-acetate at equivalent total Ag concentrations. In general, enzyme activities were inhibited as a function of the Ag concentration in the soil. In the AgNP exposures, only a small fraction of the AgNP was actually truly dissolved (found in the

Nanotechnology has gained increasing commercial attention over recent years and its use has raised concerns about its potential release in the environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the size distribution of CdTe in freshwater, bioavailability and potential toxic effects of cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe QD) to the freshwater mussel Elliptio complanata. Mussels were exposed to increasing concentrations (0 to 8 mg Cd L(-1)) of CdTe and 0.5 mg/L CdSO4 for 24 h at 15 degrees C to examine the initial uptake and toxic effects of Cd from CdTe QDs and dissolved CdSO4. After the exposure period, Cd bioaccumulation in the gills, digestive gland and gonad tissues and metallothionein (MT) levels were determined. The results revealed that about 80% of Cd was retained by a 450 nm pore filter (aggregates) and that 14% of the Cd was in the dissolved phase (i.e., eluted through a 1 kDa ultrafiltration membrane) which suggested that uncoated CdTe QDs were not stable in freshwater. In mussels, Cd was accumulated principally by the gills and digestive gland and the bioaccumulation factors of Cd from CdTe were similar to that of dissolved Cd. Indeed, tissue-levels of Cd were below the proportion of dissolved Cd from CdTe which suggests that Cd rather comes from the dissociation of Cd from the ingested QDs than from the internalization of the QDs in mussel tissues. The levels of MT were induced in both the digestive gland and gonad but were readily decreased in the gills by both CdTe and CdSO4. The observed decrease in the metallic form of MT might result from the oxidative stress by CdTe and dissolved Cd. In conclusion, uncoated CdTe QD in freshwater leads to aggregates and a dissolved component of Cd where the latter explained the contribution of the observed accumulation pattern in mussel tissues and effects on MT levels in mussels.

Environmental contextThe fate of nanomaterials in the environment is related to their colloidal stability. Although numerous studies have examined their homoagglomeration, their low concentration and the presence of high concentrations of natural particles implies that heteroagglomeration rather than homoagglomeration is likely to occur under natural conditions. In this paper, two state-of-the art analytical techniques were used to identify the conditions under which nanosilver was most likely to form heteroagglomerates in natural waters. AbstractThe environmental risk of nanomaterials will depend on their persistence, mobility, toxicity and bioaccumulation. Each of these parameters is related to their fate (especially dissolution, agglomeration). The goal of this paper was to understand the heteroagglomeration of silver nanoparticles in natural waters. Two small silver nanoparticles (nAg, ~3nm; polyacrylic acid- and citrate-stabilised) were covalently labelled with a fluorescent dye and then mixed with colloidal silicon oxides (SiO2, ~18.5nm) or clays (~550nm SWy-2 montmorillonite). Homo- and heteroagglomeration of the nAg were first studied in controlled synthetic waters that were representative of natural fresh waters (50μg Ag L–1; pH 7.0; ionic strength 10–7 to 10–1 M Ca) by following the sizes of the nAg by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. The polyacrylic acid-coated nanosilver was extremely stable under all conditions, including in the presence of other colloids and at high ionic strengths. However, the citrate-coated nanosilver formed heteroaggregates in presence of both colloidal SiO2 and clay particles. Nanoparticle surface properties appeared to play a key role in controlling the physicochemical stability of the nAg. For example, the polyacrylic acid stabilized nAg-remained extremely stable in the water column, even under conditions for which surrounding colloidal particles were agglomerating. Finally, enhanced dark-field microscopy was then used to further characterise the heteroagglomeration of a citrate-coated nAg with suspensions of colloidal clay, colloidal SiO2 or natural (river) water.

The purpose of this study was to determine the cumulative effects of exposure to either dissolved zinc or nanozinc oxide (nanoZnO) and air-time survival in freshwater mussels. Mussels were exposed to each forms of zinc for 96h then placed in air to determine survival time. A sub-group of mussels before and after 7days of exposure to air were kept aside for the determination of the following biomarkers: arachidonate-dependent cyclooxygenase (COX) and peroxidase (inflammation and oxidative stress), lipid metabolism (total lipids, esterases activity, HO-glycerol, acetyl CoA and phospholipase A2) and lipid damage (lipid peroxidation [LPO]). The results showed that air-time survival was decreased from a mean value of 18.5days to a mean value of 12days in mussels exposed to 2.5mg/L of nanoZnO although it was not lethal based on shell opening at concentrations below 50mg/L after 96h. In mussels exposed to zinc only, the median lethal concentration was estimated at 16mg/L (10-25 95% CI). The air-time survival did not significantly change in mussels exposed to the same concentration of dissolved Zn. Significant weight losses were observed at 0.5mg/L of nanoZnO and at 2.5mg/L for dissolved zinc chloride, and were also significantly correlated with air-time survival (r=0.53; p

The rise construction developed an accelerated process of extracting rock , increasing the number and extent of the quarries are in Brazil . This activity of extracting rock causes several changes in the environment , monitoring of these degraded areas through the use of environmental zoning is required. To monitor the extraction of basalt from the municipality of Tenente Portela ( RS ) mine , we used to use Quantum GIS ( QGIS ) software to characterize the area , effecting the delimitation of the area of mining digging and regions deposit tailings , access roads and points of interest in the area in question . For each contour were nominated for best viewing points on the boundaries . The Quantum GIS software is shown , using the tools offered by them for handling spatial data , a good geotechnical method to aid in planning the recovery of degraded area because the software offer data collection mechanisms that facilitate the study of the state of area in question .

Recent articles underline the potential health risks associated to the “nano” revolution. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2) are one of these engineered nanoparticles (ENP) that have been cautioned about their likely harmful effects on health. In occupational use, to handle ENP, many Health & Safety agencies have recommended the application of the precautionary principle namely the recommendation of the use of protective gloves against chemicals. However, at the best of our knowledge, no study about the penetration of ENP through protective gloves in working conditions was performed. This study was designed to evaluate the efficiency of several models of protective gloves against nTiO2. Two types of nitrile rubber gloves (100 μm and 200μm), latex and butyl rubber gloves were brought into contact with nTiO2 in water, in propylene glycol (PG) or in powder. Mechanical biaxial deformations (BD), simulating the flexing of the hand, were applied to the samples during their exposure to ENP. Depending the model of gloves and the mode of application of the NP, the results obtained by ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry) are different. For nTiO2 in water, the passage is highlighted for nitrile rubber gloves (100 μm) after only 60 deformations and the nTiO2 concentration reaches its maximum for 180 DB. Regarding the nTiO2 in powder, nitrile rubber gloves (100 μm) and butyl rubber, the values achieved are significant but less than the solutions.

The effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on terrestrial ecosystems need to be better understood and assessed. Cationic silver (Ag+) has well-documented toxicity against bacteria, but it is not clear what will be the effect of nanoscale Ag. In the present study, the potential effects of AgNPs were investigated in soils by measuring activity of the enzymes phosphomonoesterase, arylsulfatase, β-D-glucosidase, and leucine-aminopeptidase. The toxicity of AgNPs was compared with that of ionic Ag, and the ameliorating effects of soil organic matter were evaluated. To this end, 2 soils with different organic matter contents were artificially contaminated with either AgNPs or Ag-acetate at equivalent total Ag concentrations. In general, enzyme activities were inhibited as a function of the Ag concentration in the soil. In the AgNP exposures, only a small fraction of the AgNP was actually truly dissolved (found in the1-nm fraction), suggesting that the particulate forms of AgNPs resulted in a significant inhibition of soil enzymes. The addition of organic matter to the soils appeared to enhance enzyme activities; however, the mechanism of organic matter action is not clear given that dissolved Ag concentrations were similar in both the organic-matter–amended and unamended soils. The present study shows that the AgNP produces significant negative effects on the soil enzyme activities tested. The Ag chemical speciation measurements suggested that the AgNP caused greater toxic effects to the soil enzymes at the low Ag concentrations. For the larger concentrations of total soil Ag, causes of the negative effects on enzyme activities are less obvious but suggest that colloidal forms of Ag play a role.

Parallel to the increased use of engineered nanoparticles (ENP) in the formulation of commercial products or in medicine, numerous health & safety agencies have recommended the application of the precautionary principle to handle ENP; namely, the recommendation to use protective gloves against chemicals. However, recent studies reveal the penetration of titanium dioxide nanoparticles through nitrile rubber protective gloves in conditions simulating occupational use. This project is designed to understand the links between the penetration of gold nanoparticles (nAu) through nitrile rubber protective gloves and the mechanical and physical behaviour of the elastomer material subjected to conditions simulating occupational use (i.e., mechanical deformations (MD) and sweat). Preliminary analyses show that nAu suspensions penetrate selected glove materials after exposure to prolonged (3 hours) dynamic deformations. Significant morphological changes are observed on the outer surface of the glove sample; namely, the number and the surface of the micropores on the surface increase. Moreover, nitrile rubber protective gloves are also shown to be sensitive to the action of nAu suspension and to the action of the saline solution used to simulate sweat (swelling).

Environmental context. The increasing use of nanomaterials in consumer products has led to increased concerns about their potential environmental and health impacts. TiO2 is a widely used nanoparticle found in sunscreens and electronic products. In order to understand and predict the mobility of TiO2 in the natural environment, it is essential to determine its state of aggregation under environmentally relevant conditions of pH, ionic strength, ion and natural organic matter content. Aggregation is likely to lead to both reduced mobility and bioavailability in soils and natural waters. Abstract. The physicochemical characterisation of nanomaterials is crucial to predict their environmental and health impacts. Ion adsorption is known to influence the surface properties of nano-metal oxides in natural systems. The role of calcium and phosphate adsorption on aggregation was examined in the presence and absence of natural organic matter. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) was performed in order to determine the diffusion coefficients of TiO2 nanoparticles having a nominal size between 3 to 5 nm. Based upon FCS and electrophoretic mobility measurements, the presence of calcium resulted in a destabilisation and aggregation of the TiO2 nanoparticles, even in presence of Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA). Conditions which favoured phosphate adsorption also resulted in a destabilisation of the TiO2 sample but for low SRFA concentrations only.