Researchers at the University of Buffalo, United States, have found that quantum dots – semiconductor nanocrystals – made of cadmium and selenium degrade in soil, releasing their toxic guts of cadmium and selenium ions. Although quantum dots are not yet widely used in consumer products, they have many potential applications, ranging from solar panels to biomedical imaging. Diana Aga, a chemistry professor who led the study, said, “Quantum dots are not yet used widely, but they have a lot of potential and we can anticipate that the use of this nanomaterial will increase. We can also anticipate that their occurrence in the environment will also increase, and we need to be proactive and learn more about whether these materials will be a problem when they enter the environment. We can conclude from our research that there is potential for some negative impacts, since the quantum dots biodegrade. But there is also a possibility to modify the chemistry, the surface of the nanomaterials, to prevent degradation in the future.” The team found that quantum dots resting in topsoil are unlikely to burrow their way down into underground water tables, under normal circumstances. If, however, a chelating agent, such as those often found in soaps or laundry detergents, is introduced, the quantum dots travel through the soil more quickly. Aga added that even if quantum dots remain in the topsoil, the particle’s degradation still poses a risk to the environment.