What's the impact of engineered nanoparticles on aquaculture products destined for human consumption?

What are the environmental risks and safety challenges that the aquatic ecosystems of the Atlantic Area are currently facing?

 

On May 20th the INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory publicly presents the project NANOCULTURE, a new INTERREG Atlantic Area in which CIIMAR is a partner and that addresses the risk assessment and mitigation of the presence of Engineered Nanomaterials in Atlantic aquaculture. 

The use of metallic NPs is growing exponentially due to proven improvements in diverse industrial applications. However, the studies of risks and mitigation of the presence of NPs in the environment are lagging far behind the rate of utilisation, which represents a crucial environmental and safety issue to be addressed by the Atlantic Area.

 

NANOCULTURE will act on 3 main fronts:

· Assessment of the current situation on the presence, transformation, bioaccumulation and effects of Ag and TiO2 NPs in aquaculture products from the Atlantic Area;

· Evaluation of the human risk of exposure by oral intake of aquaculture products;

· Development of sensors for the rapid identification and quantification of Ag and TiO2 NPs in aquaculture facilities

The overall focus of the project is the Atlantic aquaculture, a fast-growing sector of high economic relevance in the region, specifically targeting the organisms destined for human consumption (cultured fish, molluscs, seaweed, sea urchins, and others).

The ultimate goals are the promotion of sustainable development of aquaculture sector and establishment of regulation supporting safe and non-toxic use of nanoparticles in AA aquaculture.

If you want to know all about NANOCULTURE, the project's action plan and have the chance to meet the partners, join us at INL (Braga, Portugal) on May 20th at 14:30 WET.

 

Registration is free, but mandatory.For further information and registration, please contact dasa.majcen@inl.int.

NANOCULTURE is an INTERREG Atlantic Area project promoted by a 6 partner consortium led by INL.