Environmental nanotechnology

Wunmi Sadik

Wunmi Sadik is a Professor of Chemistry at the State University of New York at Binghamton (SUNY-Binghamton). She is the Director of the Center for Advanced Sensors and Environmental Systems. Professor Sadik received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Wollongong in Australia and did postdoctoral research at the US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sadik has held previous appointments at Harvard University, Cornell University and Naval Research Laboratories in Washington, DC. Her research currently centers on the interfacial molecular recognition processes, sensors and biomaterials, and immunochemistry with tandem instrumental techniques. Her work utilizes electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques to study risk exposure assessment, endocrine disrupters, and toxicity of engineered nanomaterials and naturally occurring chemical compounds. Sadik has over 390 scientific publications, patents and lectures in the areas of biosensors, environmental and materials chemistry. She is the recipient of Harvard University's Distinguished Radcliffe Fellowship, National Science Foundation's Discovery Corps Senior Fellowship, SUNY Chancellor Award for Research, Chancellor Award for Outstanding Inventor, and National Research Council COBASE fellowship.

Nanotechnology offers new possibilities for environmental monitoring, emissions control, renewable energy, and nano-enabled remediation. It offers improved environmental performance of existing monitoring technologies, reduces the consumption of energy resources, and allows the achievement of environmentally benign economic expansion. Nanotechnology has tremendous promise in cancer research, including early detection, prognosis and development of novel therapies to target diseases, as well as the prevention of environmentally-related illnesses. Despite all of these benefits, the potential exposure scenarios and the interaction of nanomaterials with biological and environmental systems are largely unknown. Journal of Environmental Monitoring is pleased to present its first themed issue on environmental nanotechnology

The emerging field of environmental nanotechnology is a critical research area for several reasons. First, the number of engineered nanomaterials currently on the market is large and is expected to increase rapidly as scientific knowledge and research increases and technological development advances. Second, there are a number of important unresolved questions concerning the safety of these materials. In some instances, these questions are under intense debate. Additional questions include how these materials could enter, migrate and undergo certain transformations as they move through various environmental or biological media.

The successful application of nanotechnology is contingent upon scientific excellence in research and development that is both ethical and safe for human health and the environment. Contributors to this issue truly reflect the broad research areas and significant challenges we face as nanotechnology transitions from the research laboratories to consumer products. Aspects of environmental nanotechnology covered in this issue range from the challenges for physical characterization of nanoparticles, the release of engineered nanomaterials to the environment, translocation of nanoparticles in an undisturbed floodplain soil, effects of silver and cerium dioxide particles on Daphnia magna, occurrence and removal of titanium at full scale wastewater treatment plants, antibacterial effects of engineered nanomaterials, as well as nanotechnology solutions through particles and filter systems that can isolate, deactivate and remove pollutants.

We hope that this issue will help researchers to identify research goals that will provide needed data and new ideas, enable policy makers to define a pathway forward using assembled data, and provide beneficial information for corporations engaging or seeking to engage in the manufacturing of nanomaterials and nanotechnology products.

We hope you enjoy reading this issue.

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