In:
Frontiers in Environmental Science, Frontiers Media SA, Vol. 8 ( 2021-2-11)
Abstract:
Motivation for detecting engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in the environment comes from a need to understand fate and behavior of these materials in natural matrices. The difficulty lies in the low expected ENP particle number concentration (PNC) and the presence of a large and variable background concentration of natural NPs. We report the PNCs and characteristics of cerium-bearing nanoparticles (Ce-NPs) and titanium-bearing nanoparticles (Ti-NPs) in an aquatic matrix (the Seine River and three of its tributaries) with the use of single particle ICP-MS (spICPMS) and electron microscopy (FEG-SEM). Ce-bearing and Ti-bearing particles were observed in suspended particulate matter collected onto 0.2 μm and 1 kDa filters, using FEG-SEM imaging. At Marnay-sur-Seine, the upstream point, PNCs for Ce-NPs and Ti-NPs were 0.47 ± 0.07 × 10 6 and 1.35 ± 0.17 × 10 6 particles as measured by spICPMS. The maximum PNC for both Ce-NPs and Ti-NPs, 1.59 ± 0.10 × 10 6 particles mL −1 and 5.89 ± 0.10 × 10 6 particles mL −1 , respectively, were found in the Marne River, a major tributary to the Seine. It was shown that downstream of each confluence, an increase in the PNC of the Seine is observed, suggesting a significant contribution of the different tributaries. Mass balance of particles flows and elemental ratios of Ce/La showed that in the Marne and the Oise River, a contribution of natural CeO 2 NPs exists. The anthropogenic contribution in TiO 2 ENPs for the Marne River was further assessed with Ti/Al, Ti/V, and Ti/Y elemental ratios. Near constant element ratios in the Seine below the Orge River and Paris city suggest neither contribute significantly to Ce or Ti NP concentrations. The study provides further investigation of the strengths and limitations of the application of spICPMS to natural samples and contributes data to the currently highly-limited dataset on natural NP backgrounds in rivers, information that is key to assessing the potential for quantifying the input of ENPs to surface waters. Of the total mass of Ce and Ti, 83 and 90%, respectively, could be detected as particles by spICPMS.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2296-665X
DOI:
10.3389/fenvs.2020.549896
DOI:
10.3389/fenvs.2020.549896.s001
Language:
Unknown
Publisher:
Frontiers Media SA
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2741535-1
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