Understanding the fate and behaviour of manufactured nanoparticles in natural waters

Manufactured nanoparticles (NPs) are defined as material less than 100 nm in size) and deliberately made by human activity and are the subject of intense interest because of their potential societal benefits but also the potential human and ecological harm they may cause when discharged to the environment. This work will look at their chemistry under realistic environmental conditions and how this relates to aggregation and sedimentation, which are key processes in environmental transport. Their chemical behaviour is also key to understanding their ecotoxicological effects