About AQUATIDE

Nanoparticles are part of our everyday life — they are in sunscreens, cosmetics, and many other products. Among them, titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) stand out for their UV-blocking and whitening properties. But once they wash off into rivers and oceans, they may pose risks to aquatic life and even affect the quality of seafood we eat.

AQUATIDE is a research project that studies the presence, effects, and risks of TiO₂ NPs in Portuguese coastal ecosystems. Our multidisciplinary team combines ecology, nanotoxicology, molecular biology, and food science to understand how these particles move through the environment, accumulate in marine organisms, and influence fish health and nutrition.

By developing fast, sustainable, and ethical methods to detect nanoparticle toxicity, AQUATIDE aims to protect ecosystems, support safer seafood production, and provide valuable knowledge for environmental policies and future generations.