Dr Nathaniel Clark

I am a ecotoxicologist who specializes in fish, with my current projects focusing on engineered nanomaterials and microplastics exposures.

Other Roles

2021-present: Research Staff representative for the Senate.

2018-present: Weekend Technician (Rodents).

2017-present: Weekend Technician (Fish).

Qualifications

2020 - Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

2019 - Ph.D. in Ecotoxicology

2014 - MRes. Marine Biology

2013 - BSc. (Hons) Marine Biology and Oceanography

Roles on external bodies

2021-present: Topic Board Editor: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/toxics/topic_editors

2020-present: The OECD's Working Party for Manufactured Nanomaterials

2019-present: Reviewer for Journals

• Aquaculture
• Ecotoxicology
• Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
• Environmental Science: Nano
• Frontiers in Environmental Science
• NanoImpact
• Science of the total Environment

Research interests

My work with engineered nanomaterials involves trying to find alternatives to bioaccumulation testing in fish. To achieve this, I am using a range of techniques to build evidence that long term experiments with fish can achieve the same conclusions as experiments using either less fish, or alternatives with no fish use at all. 

The body distribution of particles following exposure to micro and nanoplastics is extremely difficult to quantify. The second project I work on is investigating how to trace these particles around the bodies of fish, and whether/if the presence in tissues causes any adverse effects. 

My research interests and experience includes:

• Particle toxicology and chemistry.
• Fish physiology and toxicology.
• Dietary accumulation/uptake in fish and rodents.
• Extraction of dissolved metals, metallic nanoparticles and nanoplastics from tissues.
• Quantification using single particle ICP-MS.
• Contaminant leaching from food using in vitro/in chemico digestibility assays.
• Species read across and tiered chemical testing strategies in line with the 3R's.
• Comparative vertebrate physiology.

Grants & contracts

I currently work on two projects:

1. Current and Future Effects of Microplastics on Marine Shelf Ecosystems (MINIMISE) - NERC funded.

2. NanoHarmony - EU funded. 

Other academic activities

Workshop Presentations

"Meta-analysis of physico-chemical properties and in vitro alternative to fish" (February 2021). OECD/NanoHarmony Bioaccumulation Expert Group Workshop.

"Determination of concentrations of ENMs in biological samples using spICP-MS – Measurement and Validation" (November 2020). NanoHarmony International Workshop: Gap Analysis and Data Requirements for TG and GD Development.

Platform Presentations

Speakers underlined

Clark, N. J., Mitrano, D. M., Khan, F. R., Boyle, D. and Thompson, R. C. (November 2020). The dietary bioavailability of nanoplastics to salmon using an ex vivo gut sac technique. MICRO2020.

Silva, P. V., Silva, A. R., Clark, N. J., Vassallo, J., Baccaro, M., Medvešček, N., Grgić, M., Ferreira, A. Handy, R. D., van den Brink, N., van Gestel, C. A. M. and Loureiro, S. (May 2020). Toxicokinetics of silver nanoparticles in a stream mesocosm.

Clark, N. J., Clough, R., Boyle, D., Eynon, B. P., Woznica, W. and Handy, R. D. (September 2019). The use of single particle ICP-MS to highlight species differences in gastrointestinal physiology: fish versus rodent. 14th International Conference on the Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials.

Clark N. J., Clough R., Boyle, D., Sharma, V. and Handy R. D. (May 2019). Detection of nano-sized particles in fish tissues following an in vivo dietary exposure: a case study using silver nitrate, silver nanoparticles and silver sulphide nanoparticles. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.

Clark N. J., Boyle D. and Handy R. D. (May 2018). Development of a rapid screen to assess bioaccumulation potential: from ex vivo to in vivo using pristine and aged nanomaterials in fish. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.

Poster Presentations

Presenters underlined

Clark, N. J., Woznica, W. and Handy, R. D. (September 2019). The dietary bioaccumulation potential of silver from silver nanoparticles, silver sulphide nanoparticles and silver nitrate in Wistar rats using an ex vivo gut sac technique. 14th International Conference on the Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials.

Handy, R. D., Clark, N. J., Vassallo, J., Silva, P., Silva, A. R., Grgić, M., Baccaro, M., Medvešček, N., Ferreira, A., van der Brink and Loureiro, S. (September 2019). Fate and bioaccumulation of silver from AgNO3 and Ag2S nanoparticles in a freshwater river mesocosm. International Conference on the Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials.

Clark, N. J., Boyle, D. and Handy, R. D. (September 2017). An assessment of the Dietary Bioavailability of Pristine and Aged Silver Nanomaterials in Rainbow Trout Using an Ex Vivo Gut Sac Technique. 12th International Conference on the Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials.

Boyle, D., Clark, N. J. and Handy, R. D. (September 2017). Development of a tiered approach for the assessment of the dietary bioavailability of engineered copper oxide nanomaterials in rainbow trout. International Conference on the Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials.

Clark, N. J., Boyle, D. and Handy, R. D. (February 2017). Investigation of the Dietary Bioavailability of Silver Nanoparticles in Rainbow Trout Using an Ex Vivo Technique. Nanomaterial Safety Assessment.

Shaw B. J., Letsinger, S. G. R., Correia, M., Ehrlich, N., Clark, N. J., Sharma, V. and Handy, R. D. (February 2017). The effects of surface coating on the toxicity of CuO engineered nanomaterials to early life-stage zebrafish (Danio rerio). Nanomaterial Safety Assessment.