1. Environmental Risk Assessment of Engineered Nanomaterials
Katerina Dontsova, Elizabeth Ferguson, Al Kennedy, Jerry Miller, Mo Qasim, Chuck Weiss, Jeffery Steevens
Jeffery Steevens (lead)
Environmental Laboratory and Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory
US Army Engineer Research and Development Center

2. Nanomaterials Risk Assessment
Meet environmental sustainability objectives by identifying and quantifying the environmental attributes of nanomaterials.
Sources of nanomaterials?
Fate and transport mechanisms?
Likely exposure scenarios?
Biological effects resulting from exposure?
Proactively support the development and implementation of nanotechnology.
Must include milestones and completion dates per task as given in P2. Format is flexible, can use Excel table or Microsoft Project (example above).
Gant Chart format is preferred (tie to P2 activity).
Describe the project plan in detail.
Use this chart to explain how you will execute the project. Provide an explanation of key project management and scientific activities that you will execute.
Discuss key milestones and scheduling of deliverables.
A discussion of how you will handle (analyze/evaluate) data is mandatory – i.e., what is your statistical design.
Media
Primary
Pathway
Receptor
Secondary
Material
Conceptual model

3. Conceptual Model 2. Media and Transport Processes Exposure Pathways
and Receptors
1. Sources
Air
Terrestrial Vertebrates
Inhalation
Aggregation/
UV Degradation
Contact
Ingestion
Terrestrial Invertebrates
Engineered Nanostructures
Engineered Nanodevices
Reaction Intermediates
Production
Waste
Product Degradation
Settling / suspension
Contact
Ingestion
Soil
Degradation
Contact, Ingestion
Contact
Ingestion
Ingestion
Sorption / desorption
Aquatic Invertebrates
Ingestion
Water
Contact
Ingestion
Aggregation/
Degradation
Fish
Ingestion
Fish
Contact
Ingestion
Ingestion
Settling / suspension
Sediment
Benthic Invertebrates
Degradation
Contact
Ingestion
Ingestion
Product use, Spills
Intentional application,
disposal

4. ERDC Research Efforts 1. Relevant Vectors for Exposure (2 yr):
Focus: Role of functionalization on the availability and toxicity of CNT
Unique:
1) CNT Only (PEG, NH3, COOH)
2) Aquatic toxicity
3. Nanomaterial Program (7 yr):
Focus: Characterization and classification of nanomaterials
Unique:
1) Characterization
2) Goal to establish classification system
How to deliver Nanoparticle to microcosm?
Via water column
Directly to sediment
When to deliver nanoparticles?
Continuously (hydrostatic pump)
Intermittently
Once, prior to clam addition (how long to allow for equilibration?)
Do nanoparticles partition into sediment (fate)?
How does addition of food influence uptake?
Do nanoparticles sorb to algae (food)?
Does presence of food increase clam’s exposure to nanoparticles?
2. Nanomaterial Structure Affect Biota? (2 yr):
Focus: Biological effects of different nanomaterials
Unique:
1) CNT, Fullerene, Metal Oxide, Reaction intermediates
2) Measures of bioavailability/Toxicity
Shared:
1) Materials (7 total) and cost for synthesis
Characterization information

5. ERDC Remediation Risk Modeling Sensors Fate Toxicology Sorption
Transport
Mechanisms
Dose Metrics
Stability
Analytical
Modeling