Between water and rock -- a new science(e in the U.S. has been Hochellas researc...)

Date:11/30/2007

e in the U.S., has been Hochellas research for many years. Transport of heavy metals is now the subject of Kelly Haus Ph.D. thesis. Despite remediation, elevated levels of metals occur more than 300 miles downstream from the mining source. Hochellas group has sampled the riverbed and floodplain sediments and extensively studied them using TEM, discovering toxic heavy metals as structural components of several nanocrystalline phases. Hochella and Haus have also identified metal-bearing nanoparticles in water samples from the river.

In Montana, we are finding that nanoparticles are important in transporting toxic heavy metals, such as lead and arsenic, down the river, said Hochella. These particles are incredibly small 5 to 10 nanometers. Historically, we have not even known the nanoparticles were there. Now we know that lead in solution is different than if it is attached to a particle. But finding the particles is not easy. And impact on bioavailability is still unknown.

He asks, Are the metals less toxic if they are associated with nanoparticles than if dissolved as atoms in water? If a person, animal, fish, or insect ingests this water, will lead pass harmlessly through if it is associated with a nanoparticle?

What Kelly learns about the role of nanoparticles in metal transport will be applicable to rivers worldwide, Hochella said.

Closer to home, the authors asked, can environmental nanoparticles, which both transport and break down contaminants, affect the quality of our drinking water despite or because of water treatment processes?

As a model system for identifying the mineral phase(s) of nanoparticles extracted from treated waters, Virginia Tech researchers examined tap water from Washington, D.C., which had had a significant problem with dangerously high lead concentrations in drinking water, likely due to leaching from lead-bearing pipes promoted by breakdown products of disinfection agents, according to Marc
'/>"/>

Contact: Susan Trulove STrulove@vt.edu 540-231-5646 Virginia Tech   Source:Eurekalert

0 GOOD

Page: 1 2 3 4 5
Related biology news :

1. Study shows link between alcohol consumption and hiv disease progression
2. St. Jude influenza survey uncovers key differences between bird flu and human flu
3. Hidden interactions between predators and prey: evolution causes cryptic dynamics in ecology
4. Groundbreaking Canada-US study proves link between emissions and mercury pollution in fish
5. Research explains link between cholesterol and heart disease
6. Groundbreaking Canada-US study proves link between emissions and mercury pollution in fish
7. Weight gain between first and second pregnancies associated with increased odds of male second child
8. Evidence of a relationship between swimming babies and infections
9. Of mice and men: similarities between skeletons of both
10. Analysis of breast and colon cancer genes finds many areas of differences between tumors
11. Fossilized cashew nuts reveal Europe was important route between Africa and South America