Sewage spills are a major source of titanium dioxide engineered (nano)-particle release into the environment

Abstract

Quantification of TiO2 engineered particles in surface waters receiving untreated sewage spills.

Single-particle ICP-TOFMS with online microdroplet calibration for the simultaneous quantification of diverse nanoparticles in complex matrices

“…12 This characteristic makes sp-ICP-MS well suited to be used to quantify anthropogenic NP pollution locally and globally, which is critical for accurate (eco-) toxicological risk assessments of many NP types. [13][14][15][16][17][18] However, the trueness of NP counting and sizing by sp-ICP-MS depends on how accurately the sample uptake into the ICP (i.e. transport efficiency) and signal per analyzed unit of mass (i.e.…”

Strategies for determining heteroaggregation attachment efficiencies of engineered nanoparticles in aquatic environments

“…Currently spICP-MS can be used as routine analysis for measuring only one element at a time, so distinguishing between ENP and ENP-SPM signals is of utmost importance. Multi-element single particle measurements, as possible with a more specialised inductively-coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ICP-TOFMS) [81][82][83][84] have the potential to further improve the differentiation between free and SPM-bound ENPs. This enables monitoring multiple elements simultaneously, making it possible to distinguish between ENP-specific and SPM-specific element signals.…”

“…This enables monitoring multiple elements simultaneously, making it possible to distinguish between ENP-specific and SPM-specific element signals. As an emerging technique for ENP analysis spICP-TOFMS has been successfully applied for distinguishing between naturally occurring particles and ENPs 83,84 and analysing colloids in environmental samples, demonstrating its promise for heteroaggregation investigations. However, spICP-MS and spICP-TOFMS analysis requires low concentrations (in sub-ppb range), which complicates the use of this technique directly for environmentally relevant set-ups with high SPM contents.…”

Performance of sp-ICP-TOFMS with signal distributions fitted to a compound Poisson model

“…Hence, for each Au NP detected above S C(ADC) , the corresponding mass of Ag in that NP can be determined, which is an important requirement for studies that classify NPs based on their multi-elemental composition. 35,36,38 3.3. Measuring single-particle distribution: application to nominal 20 nm Au NPs…”

“…Importantly, because the TOF mass analyzer provides simultaneous full mass spectrum detection at a high speed (25.136 kSpectra per s), multi-element NPs can be quantitatively measured. [34][35][36][37][38] Online microdroplet calibration was used for NP mass quantication. 32,33 In brief, NP-containing solutions were introduced through the nebulizer, while microdroplets composed of the calibration solution were produced by a microdroplet generator (50 mm diameter autodrop pipette, AD-KH-501-L6; MD-E-3000 dispensing system, Microdrop Technologies GmbH, Germany) and introduced concurrently into the ICP via a falling tube lled with a He/Ar gas mixture to accelerate droplet desolvation.…”