Toxicity

ERDC cell screening and surrogate bioassays are used to assess the potential toxicity of nanomaterials to humans. A broad range of terrestrial and aquatic bioassay tests are used to determine ecotoxicity of nanomaterials. These methods are used to generate high quality toxicological data tailored to specific nanomaterials and nanotechnology. Toxicity assessment capabilities provide standardized and customized methods to predict effects in complex environmental systems.

A woman in a white lab coat looks through the ocular lense of a large microscope. A screen on the right shows a dark picture with light green natural shapes.

ERDC uses mixed alveolar cell and macrophage cultures for in vitro screening of nanoparticle toxicity

An image of small silvery fish in shallow blue water.

Exposure, uptake, and ecotoxicity of nanoparticles are determined using a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate bioassays

Capabilities

  • Brunauer, Emmet and Teller Surface Area Analysis
  • CytoViva Microscope Hyperspectral Imaging
  • Disk centrifuge particle counting
  • Diverse suite of acute and chronic toxicological bioassays for whole organisms (freshwater, marine, sediment)
  • Electrophoretic mobility and point of zero charge determination
  • High resolution UV-vis and NIR photospectrometry determination of concentration and aggregation
  • Noldus DanioVision Behavioral analysis

Education

  • Ph.D. Oceanography; University of Connecticut
  • B.S. Biology; Indiana University

Research Interests

  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Emerging Contaminants (PFOS) Risk Mitigation
  • Mesocosm Design

Mark Ballentine

Research Biologist

Education

  • M.S. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Health; Duke University
  • B.S. Marine Sciences; University of Florida

Research Interests

  • Ecotoxicology
  • Emerging Contaminants

Jonna Boyda

Research Toxicologist

Education

  • Ph.D. Integrative Biosciences, 2009; Pennsylvania State University, MS Hershey College of Medicine; Hershey, PA
  • B.S. Biotechnology, 2000; Rochester Institute of Technology; Rochester, NY

Research Interests

  • Immunotoxicology for Wide Area Decontamination Project
  • Immunotoxicology for Post-Combustion Nanomaterials
  • Paddlefish Bio-inspiration Project

Keri Donohue

Immunologist

Education

  • M.S. Veterinary Medical Science, 2009; Mississippi State University; Mississippi State, MS
  • B.S. Biology, 2006; Mississippi State University; Mississippi State, MS

Research Interests

  • Bioavailability and Degradation Pathways for 2,4 Dinitroanisole
  • Nanotechnology Development: Integrating Design with Environmental Sustainability Objectives

Ashley Harmon

Research Biologist

Education

  • Ph.D. Macromolecular Science and Engineering, 2023; Virginia Tech; Blacksburg, VA
  • M.S. Environmental Toxicology, 2002; Virginia Tech; Blacksburg, VA
  • B.S. Environmental Biology, 1999; Michigan State University; East Lansing, MI

Research Interests

  • Program Planning and Execution
  • Novel exposure metrics and effects assessment
  • Nanocomposites release, fate and transport
  • Environmental applications and implications of 3D printing micro- and nano-composites

Alan Kennedy

Ecotoxicologist