ZAGREB, 1 Dec (Hina) - A team of scientists from Croatia's Ruđer Bošković Institute (IRB) and Slovenia's Jožef Stefan Institute has developed a method for reliably measuring lead nanoparticles in sludge, providing a dependable tool for inspections, utility companies and policymakers monitoring nanoparticles in sludge.
Researchers at the Zagreb-based IRB have recently explained that metal nanoparticles smaller than a thousandth of a hair’s width are found in a range of products, from textiles and cosmetics to electronics. After use, they end up in drains, and the vast majority are “captured” in sludge during wastewater treatment. This sludge is often used as fertiliser in agriculture, making it crucial to know how many nanoparticles it contains and what impact these particles may have on soil, plants, and human health.
The method, for the first time, has enabled quantitative measurement of lead nanoparticles in solid environmental samples such as sludge.
A survey of five Croatian wastewater treatment plants showed that between 10 million and 30 billion nanoparticles are present per gram of sludge, depending on the metal and sample. Nevertheless, despite the impressive number, these particles account for less than two per cent of the total metal content in the sludge, a statement explained.
It can be said that the scientists have developed a ‘magnifying glass’ that clearly shows how many nanoparticles are actually present in sludge. With this knowledge, better and safer decisions can be made. Utility companies, inspectors, and policymakers can now rely on accurate figures, and nanoparticles in sludge can finally be monitored like any other relevant environmental component, the IRB explained.
The new method helps maintain a balance between the sustainable use of sludge and the protection of soil, water, and the food chain, with reasonable caution regarding silver and zinc, which show higher reactivity and therefore potential risk.
The research was conducted in collaboration between IRB and the Jožef Stefan Institute, with support from the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS, Programme P1–0143) and a European Union NextGenerationEU scholarship.
