Establishing an in vitro based testing-system for hazard identification of environmental pesticide-nanoparticle interactions

Many nanoparticles are engineered to carry active chemicals across biomembranes. Nanoparticles deliberately added to pesticide formulations or occurring in fields as a result of sludge amendment, deposition or accidental events may act to enhance transport of active substances to target and no-target organisms. This project develops our understanding of the mechanisms governing transport and effects of the pesticide-nanoparticle complex in several small scale in vitro test systems relevant for human and environmental exposure (human intestinal mucosa and lung epithelia, single cell phytoplankton, Dafnia and early life stage of zebra fish). The results will be evaluated in the light of the pesticide hazard identification schemes in Denmark and the EU. The project will generate valuable knowledge and new methods for testing and assessment of pesticides