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The environmental fate and transport of nanocopper in a freshwater environment
Citation:
Ross, B. AND Chris Knightes. The environmental fate and transport of nanocopper in a freshwater environment. American Geophysical Union, NA, Virtual, December 13 - 17, 2021.
Impact/Purpose:
Nanomaterials are chemicals with a size in the nanometer range (one millionth of a millimeter). Due to their small size, these chemicals have special properties. One such property is anti-fouling. Nanocopper has been applied to boats to reduce fouling, but it is unclear what type of environmental impact the use of these chemicals will have in lakes where these boats with nanocopper paint are used. In this work, we develop and apply a mathematical model to simulate the release of nanocopper into Lake Waccamaw and study the changing concentrations of nanocopper as well as ionic copper in the water column and the sediments. Thourgh this work, we hope to better understand the feasible long term impacts of using nanocopper to reduce fouling of boat hulls.
Description:
The use and production of engineered nanomaterials have grown exponentially over the past few decades due to their unique properties and versatility. As a result of widespread industrial applications, nanomaterials have evolved into their own unique class of emerging contaminants ranging from metallic to carbonaceous forms. However, the full extent of nanomaterials’ impact on the environment is currently unknown. In this study, we use the Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP8) to investigate the fate, transport, and transformations of nanocopper in surface waters. Surface treatments used in aquatic environments, such as boat-bottom paints and lumber preservatives, frequently rely on nanocopper for its antifouling properties. Despite its frequent use and ionic copper’s well-known toxic effects on aquatic/benthic organisms, few studies have modelled the behavior of nanocopper in the environment. WASP8 serves as a powerful modeling framework that allows users to create dynamic, mechanistic water quality models. Using WASP8, we modelled the variables, including dissolved organic carbon and suspended particulate matter, and processes governing the behavior of both nanocopper and its ionic copper byproducts once released to freshwater environments from boats coated with nanocopper bottom paint. Specifically, we assessed the fate and transport of nanocopper and ionic copper in Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina over the course of 100 years. In our model, we observed the highest nanocopper and ionic copper accumulation in Lake Waccamaw’s subaqueous soils, reaching total concentrations of 5.5 mg/L and 1.5 mg/L, respectively. Given that ionic copper is modelled in this investigation, the results may benefit research efforts to predict the toxicity of nanocopper used widely in aquatic systems.
