Development of environmental fate models for engineered nanoparticles--a case study of TiO2 nanoparticles in the Rhine River
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In: Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 46, No. 12, 19.06.2012, p. 6705-6713.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Development of environmental fate models for engineered nanoparticles--a case study of TiO2 nanoparticles in the Rhine River
AU - Praetorius, Antonia
AU - Scheringer, Martin
AU - Hungerbühler, Konrad
PY - 2012/6/19
Y1 - 2012/6/19
N2 - For a proactive risk assessment of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) it is imperative to derive predicted environmental concentration (PEC) values for ENPs in different environmental compartments; PECs can then be compared to effect thresholds. From the basis of established multimedia environmental fate models for organic pollutants, we develop a new concept of environmental fate modeling for ENPs with process descriptions based on the specific properties of ENPs. Our new fate modeling framework is highly flexible and can be adjusted to different ENPs and various environmental settings. As a first case study, the fate and transport of TiO 2 NPs in the Rhine River is investigated. Predicted TiO 2 NP concentrations lie in the ng/L range in the water compartment and mg/kg in the sediment, which represents the main reservoir for the nanoparticles. We also find that a significant downstream transport of ENPs is possible. A fundamental process, the heteroaggregation between TiO 2 NPs and suspended particulate matter (SPM), is analyzed in more detail. Our modeling results demonstrate the importance of both the SPM properties (concentration, size, density) as well as the affinity of TiO 2 NPs and SPM, characterized by the attachment efficiency, α het-agg, on the transport potential of ENPs in a surface water system. (Figure Presented). © 2012 American Chemical Society.
AB - For a proactive risk assessment of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) it is imperative to derive predicted environmental concentration (PEC) values for ENPs in different environmental compartments; PECs can then be compared to effect thresholds. From the basis of established multimedia environmental fate models for organic pollutants, we develop a new concept of environmental fate modeling for ENPs with process descriptions based on the specific properties of ENPs. Our new fate modeling framework is highly flexible and can be adjusted to different ENPs and various environmental settings. As a first case study, the fate and transport of TiO 2 NPs in the Rhine River is investigated. Predicted TiO 2 NP concentrations lie in the ng/L range in the water compartment and mg/kg in the sediment, which represents the main reservoir for the nanoparticles. We also find that a significant downstream transport of ENPs is possible. A fundamental process, the heteroaggregation between TiO 2 NPs and suspended particulate matter (SPM), is analyzed in more detail. Our modeling results demonstrate the importance of both the SPM properties (concentration, size, density) as well as the affinity of TiO 2 NPs and SPM, characterized by the attachment efficiency, α het-agg, on the transport potential of ENPs in a surface water system. (Figure Presented). © 2012 American Chemical Society.
KW - Chemistry
KW - Fresh Water
KW - Metal Nanoparticles
KW - Models, Theoretical
KW - Titanium
KW - Water Pollutants
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84862583735&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/31b37d4c-25b7-3c05-832e-312d4223be8e/
U2 - 10.1021/es204530n
DO - 10.1021/es204530n
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 22502632
VL - 46
SP - 6705
EP - 6713
JO - Environmental Science & Technology
JF - Environmental Science & Technology
SN - 0013-936X
IS - 12
ER -