A team led by Ralf Kägi from Eawag www.eawag.ch in Dübendorf has examined within the scope of the National Research Programme "Opportunities and Risks of Nanomaterials" (NRP 64) more closely just what happens to nanosilver on its journey from the drainpipe to the wastewater treatment plant, and in what form it is eventually released into the environment. The study shows for the first time that nanosilver is quickly transformed into less problematic substances on its way to the wastewater treatment plant. In addition, it is efficiently retained in the sewage sludge so that only a small portion of it reaches the water systems. The study did not examine what happens to nanosilver in the sewage sludge thereafter. In Switzerland, it is not permissible to use sewage sludge on farmland, and most of the sludge is therefore burned.
Link to the original Publication:
Kaegi, R., A. Voegelin, C. Ort, B. Sinnet, B. Thalmann, J. Krismer, H. Hagendorfer, M. Elumelu and E. Mueller (2013). "Fate and transformation of silver nanoparticles in urban wastewater systems." Water Res. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2012.11.060.
Information on the sponsorship programmes of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research on nanotechnologies for humans and the environment.
A database with important and generally understandable aspects on health and environment of applied nanomaterials as well as facts on the safety of manufactured nanomaterials.
The chapters on release, exposure, uptake and behavior of nanomaterials in the human body and in the environment as well as the risk assessment will give you a first overview.
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In October we would like to present the special issue "Future Nanosafety" published in "Chemical Research in Toxicology".
In 17 articles operation procedures for future test methods, alternatives for animal testing, safe-by-design processes and detection methods of nanoparticles are presented.