Predictions of environmental concentrations of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) are needed for their environmental risk assessment. Because analytical data on ENM-concentrations in the environment are not yet available, exposure modeling represents the only source of information on ENM exposure in the environment. This work provides material flow data and environmental concentrations of nine ENM in Denmark. It represents the first study that distinguishes between photostable TiO2 (as used in sunscreens) and photocatalytic TiO2 (as used in self-cleaning surfaces). It also provides first exposure estimates for quantum dots, carbon black and CuCO3. Other ENM that are covered are ZnO, Ag, CNT and CeO2. The modeling is based for all ENM on probability distributions of production, use, environmental release and transfer between compartments, always considering the complete life-cycle of products containing the ENM. The magnitude of flows and concentrations of the various ENM depends on the one hand on the production volume but also on the type of products they are used in and the life-cycles of these products and their potential for release. The results reveal that in aquatic systems the highest concentrations are expected for carbon black and photostable TiO2, followed by CuCO3 (under the assumption that the use as wood preservative becomes important). In sludge-treated soil highest concentrations are expected for CeO2 and TiO2. Transformation during water treatments results in extremely low concentrations of ZnO and Ag in the environment. The results of this study provide valuable environmental exposure information for future risk assessments of these ENM.

Fiber-optic microprobes for determining irradiance and scalar irradiance were used for light measurements in sandy sediments of different particle size. Intense scattering caused a maximum integral light intensity [photon scalar ~rradiance, E"(400 to 700 nm) and Eo(700 to 880 nm)] at the sediment surface ranging from 180% of incident collimated light in the coarsest sediment (250 to 500 pm grain size) up to 280% in the finest sediment (<63 pm grain m e ) . The thickness of the upper sediment layer in which scalar irradiance was higher than the incident quantum flux on the sediment surface increased with grain size from <0.3 mm in the f~nest to > 1 mm in the coarsest sediments. Below 1 mm, light was attenuated exponentially with depth in all sediments. Light attenuation coefficients decreased with increasing particle size, and infrared light penetrated deeper than visible light in all sediments. Attenuation spectra of scalar irradiance exhibited the strongest attenuation at 450 to 500 nm, and a continuous decrease in attenuation coefficent towards the longer wavelengths was observed. Measurements of downwelling irradiance underestimated the total quantum flux available. i.e. scalar irradiance, by > 100% throughout the sediment. Attenuation coefficents of scalar irradiance, downwering irradiance and upwelling irradiance were, however, similar in deeper sediment layers where the light fleld became more diffuse. Our results demonstrate the importance of measuring scalar irradiance when the role of light in photobiological processes in sedirnents, e.g. microbenthic photosynthesis, is investigated.

Scalar irradiance and oxygenic photosynthesis were measured simultaneously at 100~pm spatial resolution by a fiber-optic scalar irradiance microsensor and an oxygen microelectrode spaced 120 pm apart. Marine microbial mats on sandy sediments along the coast of Limtjorden, Denmark, were dominated by cyanobacteria with a surface layer populated by pennate diatoms. In dim light Oscillatoria sp. migrated upward and a dense surface film of cyanobacteria developed. The spectral distribution of scalar irradiance showed absorption peaks at 430 and 675 nm (Chl a), 630 (phycocyanin), and 800 and 860 nm (bacteriochlorophyll cc). Infrared scalar irradiance reached 200% of incident light intensity at 0.0-0.3-mm depth and IR penetration was independent of the development of a cyanobacterial surface film. At high incident light intensity, 740 WEinst rnZ s-l, the photosynthetic efficiency at 1 .O-mm depth was lo-fold higher than in the uppermost 0.0-0.6 mm of the sediment. The lower boundary of the euphotic zone (detectable gross photosynthesis) was at a mean light level of ~7.5 FEinst rn+ s-l.

Physiological studies of Trichodesmium species have been hindered by difficulties in maintaining actively growing, nitrogen-fixing cultures. Previous cultivation successes have not been widely duplicated. We present here a simple modified seawater medium and handling techniques which have been used to maintain actively growing Trichodesmium thiebautii in laboratory culture for over 1 year. The cultured population, isolated from coastal Atlantic waters, has a growth rate of 0.23 division day-l and exhibits light-dependent nitrogen fixation during exponential growth. Various morphologies, including solitary trichomes, and aggregates (spherical puffs and fusiform tufts) are present during growth. Spectral and scalar irradiance were measured within naturally occurring (coastal Atlantic) aggregates with small (diameter, 50 to 70 im) spherical fiber-optic sensors. In contrast to naturally occurring puffs, cultivated Trichodesmium aggregates exhibited spectral properties consistent with low-light adaptation. Cultivated puff-type aggregates were also examined by using oxygen microelectrodes. The simple medium and approach used for cultivation should be easily reproducible and amenable to further manipulations and modifications useful for physiological studies of Trichodesmium spp. in culture.

The manufacturing of a new spherical fibre‐optic microsensor is described. The microsensor measures scalar irradiance, i.e. the spherically integrated light at a point in space. The light collector of the probe was a 70‐μm diffusing sphere cast on the tip of a 125‐μm wide optical fibre tapered down to 15–20 μm diametre. The microsensor had an isotropic (±10%) response from −160° to +160° over the whole spectral range from 400–900 nm in air as well as in water. The microsensor was coupled to a sensitive spectroradiometre and the spectral distribution of scalar irradiance in sediments was measured at 100 μm spatial resolution. Light was available for photosynthesis near the sediment surface at a higher intensity and a different spectral composition than could be expected from the illumination. By the combination of oxygen microelectrodes and the present fibre‐optic microsensor it is now possible to study the depth distribution of microbenthic photosynthesis in relation to the available photosynthetically active radiation at ≤ 100 μm resolution.