Technologic revolutions bring great benefits to society. Unfortunately many advances also result in residuals that can have harmful effects on human health and the environment. A case in point is the growing use of atom-sized particles called nanomaterials in a variety of applications from stain-resistant clothing to pain-relief cream.

Because of their size (<100 nm) and unique properties, these nanomaterials are resulting in new medical, industrial, and commercial products. Yet, a growing concern exists among experts who believe that as nanotechnology evolves and our use of commercial nanomaterials (CNMs) increases, so does their potential impact on human health and the environment.

Researcher Paul Westerhoff, of Arizona State University, is trying to ensure that the lessons learned with other emerging issues, such as endocrine disrupting compounds, are applied to burgeoning nanotechnology-derived products and that the water quality community has the tools and fundamental knowledge it needs to properly manage them. “We need to recognize the new and potential impacts of nanomaterials at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) today,” says Westerhoff. “Let’s not wait five or ten years before we find nanomaterials ubiquitously in our rivers.”

The interactions between nanomaterials and wastewater biomass are central to Westerhoff’s research. His team will attempt to discover the science underlying three key questions:

How can NMs be quantified and characterized at WWTPs?
What mechanisms affect biogenic organic nanomaterials (BONM) and commercial nanomaterials?
What are the likely environmental and process-related significances of nanomaterials in WWTPs?

Commercial nanomaterials are used today in 200-plus consumer products. While this emerging technology brings advanced products and scientific advances to humanity—including use for drug delivery and treatment—little scientific information is currently available on the fate of CNMs in WWTPs, whether they are present in biosolids or effluent, or the potential impact of CNMs on the treatment processes.

In addition, biological WWTP processes generate biogenic organic nanomaterial. Though BONM properties are not well understood, it appears likely that BONM are already detrimentally impacting WWTP performance and water quality. There is a need to develop the technology basis and science needed to characterize and understand the risk of biogenic and commercial nanomaterials in biological WWTP effluents.

Investigating BONM and CNM simultaneously is an approach that Westerhoff hopes will lead to methods for quantifying nanomaterials in wastewater matrices. Moreover, the efforts of his research team will provide fundamental knowledge of nanomaterial interactions that will facilitate their control in WWTPs, improve operations of existing WWTP processes (e.g., membranes, filters, sedimentation basins, UV irradiation), and catalyze new research opportunities on the beneficial use of nanotechnology in diagnostic tools or treatment processes.