The subject focuses on all the aspects of nanomaterial production and application impacting the environment. Characteristics of the nanomaterials problematic in terms of their presence in the environment are introduced, and the ways of their leaking to water, soil and air, as well as their life cycle and specifics of their presence the main ecospheres, are discussed. Students are introduced to the methods of monitoring of the engineered nanoparticle presence in the environment, possibilities of assessments of their toxicity and risks they pose to the particular groups of organisms as well as human health. Attention is given to the prevention of the nanomaterial pollution, removal of this pollution and environmental technology applications of the nanmaterials.

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1. Specifics of nanomaterials regarding the environment: Presence in the environment, naturally-occurring and anthropogenic nanomaterials, mechanical and chemical properties of nanomaterials with impact on the environment.
2. Nanomaterials in the environment: Hydrosphere, basic definitions, hydrosphere in the context of other ecospheres, specifics of threat to water ecosystems and their protection. Leakage of the nanomaterials into the water environment and its risks.
3. Nanomaterials in the environment: Pedosphere, basic definitions, pedosphere in the context of other ecospheres, specifics of thethreat to soil ecosystems and their protection. Leakage of the nanomaterials into the soil environment and its risks.
4. Nanomaterials in the environment: Atmosphere, basic definitions, atmosphere in the context of other ecospheres, specifics of the threat to the atmosphere and its protection. Leakage of the nanomaterials into the air and its risks.
5. Monitoring: Technical monitoring, overview of the basic tools for concentration and size measurement in water and air. Measurement of nanomaterial worker exposure.
6. Monitoring: Biomonitoring, bioindication, active and passive biomonitoring, temporal and spatial scale of biomonitoring, biomonitoring using plants, animals and other organisms, nanoparticle biomonitoring.
7. Toxicity assessment: Exposure, dose, oxidative stress, genotoxicity and ecotoxicity testing, LD50, teratogenicity, reproductive toxicity, carcinogenicity. Methods of toxicity assessment.
8. Nanomaterial risks to autotrophic organisms: Uptake of the nanoparticles – root and shoot, nanomaterial distribution and translocation in the organism, known ecotoxicity and genotoxicity of nanomaterials to plants, physiological stress, effect on photosynthesis.
9. Nanomaterial risks to heterotrophic organisms: Uptake of the nanoparticles: body surface, digestion, inhalation, nanomaterial distribution and translocation in the organism, known ecotoxicity and genotoxicity of nanomaterials to heterotrophic organisms, effect on behaviour.
10. Nanomaterial risks to human health: Uptake of the nanoparticles: digestive system, skin, respiration system, acute and chronic toxicity. Systemic and local toxicity of the nanomaterials.
11. Nanomaterial pollution prevention: Overview of the fundamental legislation, production leakage prevention, best available techniques (BAT), reduction of nanomaterials by-products, filters.
12. Environmental pollution removal: decontamination, remediation, pollution removal from water, soil and air. Specifics of nano-pollution removal.
13. Environmental applications of nanomaterials: Benefits and risks of nanomaterial application in the environment, sorption, catalytic nanomaterials, treatment of water, soil and air, possibilities of nanomaterial applications in the environmental protection in the future.