Investigating the impact of water-soluble polymers on the metabolic profiles of aquatic organisms and microbes

Despite their ubiquity, there is remarkably little literature on modes of toxicity for water-soluble polymers (WSPs). Persistent, water-soluble polymers like polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide and acrylic copolymers have annual production volumes well into the millions of tonnes, with many uses associated with environmental emissions. Applications of WSPs include their use in consumer products, pharmaceuticals, paint, fertiliser and many other industries e.g. textile industry.
Whilst existing studies broadly indicate that WSPs possess a lack of acute toxicity, it has been recently suggested that the transport, fate, and removal efficiency of degraded Polyacrylamide monomer (PAM) should be re-examined in light of new information on both PAM and the corresponding monomer. It should be noted that some WSPs are also classified as mucoadhesive polymers, which provides the potential for them to adhere to biological membranes. The principal aim of this project is to investigate the potential for WSP's to influence the metabolic profile of aquatic organisms and microbes.