1) Silver nanoparticles are intentionally produced engineered nanomaterials that are being used in many consumer products due to their antibacterial properties. However, there is concern about their potential impacts on human health and the environment. 2) The project aimed to develop methods to detect silver nanoparticles in water, determine their toxicological effects in aquatic environments, and develop risk assessment protocols. 3) Key findings included that activated charcoal can effectively capture silver nanoparticles from water, effects were observed on aquatic organisms in toxicity tests, and current models estimate low environmental concentrations pose low risks to human health through drinking water. However, more studies are needed to monitor silver nanoparticles in Ireland's environment and risks.

1. Silver Nanoparticles,
the environment and your health-
What do we know, and what do we need to know
Dr. Dearbháile Morris
Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group,
School of Medicine, and
Ryan Institute, Centre for Health from Environment
NUI Galway

2. DeTER
Detection, Toxicology, Environmental fate and Risk assessment of silver nanoparticles
in the aquatic environment (2014-HW-MS-1)
Dr. Dearbháile Morris Dr. Enda Cummins Dr. Andrew Fogarty Dr. Patrick Dunlop
Dr. Eoin McGillicuddy Mr. David Shevlin Mr. Iain Murray
Dr. Liam Morrison
Prof. Martin Cormican
Prof. Peter Dockery

3. http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/research/health/research259.html

4. “A natural, incidental or manufactured material containing particles, in an unbound
state or as an aggregate or as an agglomerate and where, for 50 % or more of the
particles in the number size distribution, one or more external dimensions is in the
size range
1 nm - 100 nm”.
(2011/696/EU).
What are nanoparticles?
Source: Bhattachajee , C. et al. Austin Chem Eng. 2016; 3(3): 1036

5. • Nanoparticles can be naturally occurring,
inadvertently generated and engineered.
• Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are intentionally
produced, and exhibit unique properties.
Source: Larson, Jeremy & Carvan, Michael & Hutz, Reinhold. (2014). Engineered Nanomaterials: An Emerging Class of Novel Endocrine Disruptors.
Biology of reproduction. 91. 10.1095/biolreprod.113.116244.
What are nanoparticles?

6. What are nanoparticles used for?
Household products Personal Care products
Medical Applications Soil and Water Remediation
Textiles and Others

8. Why focus on Silver nanoparticles?
Silver has been used for centuries due to its antibacterial properties

10. Why focus on Silver nanoparticles?
• The annual global consumption of nanosilver has been
estimated to be between 55 1 - 4502 ton/year
• Potential for AgNP release during manufacture, use
and disposal of the nano-functionalised products
• Studies have found that some nano-functionalised
textiles can release up to 100% of its nanosilver during
washing
1 Piccinno, F., Gottschalk, F., Seeger, S., Nowack, B., 2012. Industrial Production Quantities and Uses of ten Engineered Nanomaterials in Europe and the World.
2 Future Markets, Inc.; The Global Market for Nanomaterials 2002−2016: Production Volumes, Revenues and End Use Markets; 2012; p 371.
http://www.futuremarketsinc.com.

11. ENMs are safe to use.......right??
Source: Teow, Y. et al. Chem. Commun., 2011,47, 7025-7038
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C0CC05271J
• Concern that the unique properties
of ENMs may result in potential
hazards for both humans and the
environment.
• Nanoparticles can be released into
various environmental matrices such
as soil, sediment, air and water
during their production, use and
disposal.
• Nanoparticles pose a potential risk
to human health through ingestion,
inhalation and contact

12. • The REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of
Chemicals)regulations (Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006)......no consensus
as to how REACH applies to ENMs.
• The Scientific Knowledge for Environmental Protection (SKEP)
Nanomaterials in REACH Report1 concluded that most REACH
provisions and assessment tools are not appropriate to evaluate
the safety of nanomaterials.
1SKEP. 2011. SKEP Nanomaterials in REACH Report. www.skep-network.eu/SKEP_Nanomaterials_in_REACH_Report
ENMs are safe to use.......right??

15. Manufacturers and importers of nanomaterials (NMs) should be
required to register any variation of their NM(s) prior to
commercialisation and independent of production and import
volumes.
All uses of NMs should be evaluated according to the NanoRiskCat
methodology

19. Obligation on companies to declare the quantities and uses
of substances at nanoscale produced, distributed or
imported to ANSES.
Belgium, Denmark and Norway have also initiated similar
inventories of products.
Italy, Germany, Sweden and the U.K. are proposing to
introduce some form of regulation.
Regulation of ENMs in Europe

20. Ireland?

21. • Evidence is lacking and safe levels have not been established.
• Several studies provide evidence that nanoparticles in consumer
products can accumulate in water the majority of studies to date rely on
modelling data.
• Lack of monitoring and detection data, or an agreed methodology for
nanoparticle monitoring in waters and other environmental matrices.
• Lack of data in the scientific literature regarding the toxicity of silver
nanoparticles in natural raw water.
4DEHLG and Camp. Dresser and McKee Ltd. (2004). Economic Analysis of Water use in Ireland. http://www.wfdireland.ie/docs/35_Economics/Economic%20Analysis%20of%20Water%20use.pdf
What impact do AgNps have on human health
and the environment?

22. 1. To develop and implement a method for the detection,
characterisation and quantification of silver nanoparticles in water.
2. To determine the toxicological properties of silver nanoparticles in
the aquatic environment.
3. To develop risk assessment protocols which can be used to evaluate
the environmental fate and likely risk from silver nanoparticles
through aquatic pathways.
Aims:
DeTER
Detection, Toxicology, Environmental fate and Risk assessment of silver nanoparticles
in the aquatic environment (2014-HW-MS-1)

23. Detection
DeTER
Detection, Toxicology, Environmental fate and Risk assessment of silver nanoparticles
in the aquatic environment (2014-HW-MS-1)
Charcoal is a commonly used as an adsorbant in water purification.
Granulated Ground Milled

24. Detection
DeTER
Detection, Toxicology, Environmental fate and Risk assessment of silver nanoparticles
in the aquatic environment (2014-HW-MS-1)
76.28%
65.89%
94.12% 89.92%
0
20
40
60
80
100
100 ppb 10 nm
citrate coated
100 ppb 25 nm
PVP coated
10 ppb 10 nm
citrate coated
10 ppb 25 nm PVP
coated
%Agremovedfromsample
Comparison of AgNP capture by charcoal using AgNPs
with different sizes and coatingsActivated charcoal is a suitable material for capture of
AgNPs from water.
Potential as a cost-effective material for the capture and
remediation of AgNPs, and possibly other nano-wastes,
from the aquatic environment.

25. Toxicology
DeTER
Detection, Toxicology, Environmental fate and Risk assessment of silver nanoparticles
in the aquatic environment (2014-HW-MS-1)
Primary Producer
Pseudokirchnerriella
subcapitata
Primary Consumer
Daphnia magna
Secondary Consumer
Hydra attenuata
Multi-trophic test battery

26. Toxicology
DeTER
Detection, Toxicology, Environmental fate and Risk assessment of silver nanoparticles
in the aquatic environment (2014-HW-MS-1)
An EDTA-free medium should be utilised to improve test
sensitivity .
The effect of Ag on the regeneration of Hydra attenuata is
the most environmentally relevant bioassay investigated.

27. Risk Assessment
DeTER
Detection, Toxicology, Environmental fate and Risk assessment of silver nanoparticles
in the aquatic environment (2014-HW-MS-1)

28. Risk Assessment
DeTER
Detection, Toxicology, Environmental fate and Risk assessment of silver nanoparticles
in the aquatic environment (2014-HW-MS-1)
• Current models estimate predicted environmental concentrations
of AgNP to be in the low ng L-1 range
• Low risk to human health based on predicted environmental
concentrations.
• For the scenarios considered, there is no existing risk from AgNPs
residues following drinking of water.

29. Key Recommendations
DeTER
Detection, Toxicology, Environmental fate and Risk assessment of silver nanoparticles
in the aquatic environment (2014-HW-MS-1)
 An Irish national inventory of all products containing nanoparticles
should be established and updated on a regular basis.
 Further investigations should be carried out to determine the levels of
AgNPs in the Irish environment. These studies should allow for
examination of their impacts on the environment and associated risks.

30. Key Recommendations
DeTER
Detection, Toxicology, Environmental fate and Risk assessment of silver nanoparticles
in the aquatic environment (2014-HW-MS-1)
 This study substantiates the need for international bodies to
develop and harmonise a suite of ecotoxicology bioassays for the
risk assessment of Ag nanomaterials.
 Given the rapid uptake of nanotechnology in various sectors, and
the consequential likely increased environmental release of
ENMs, environmental and human exposure will change and
should be constantly monitored and re-evaluated.

32. Acknowledgements
Environmental Protection Agency for funding under EPA Research
Programme 2014–2020
Project Team
Project Steering Committee:
• Dr. Brian Quinn (UWS)
• Dr. Aisling O’Connor (EPA)
• Dr. Brian Donlon (EPA)
• Dr. Alan Stephens (EPA)
• Dr. Rachel Clarke (EPA)

33. DUBLIN, MAY 22ND -24TH 2019
TEAGASC CONFERENCECENTRE,ASHTOWN,DUBLIN
JOINTLY HOSTEDBY NUI GALWAY ANDTEAGASC