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HERO ID
193457
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Synthetic TiO2 nanoparticle emission from exterior facades into the aquatic environment
Author(s)
Kaegi, R; Ulrich, A; Sinnet, B; Vonbank, R; Wichser, A; Zuleeg, S; Simmler, H; Brunner, S; Vonmont, H; Burkhardt, M; Boller, M
Year
2008
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
Environmental Pollution
ISSN:
0269-7491
EISSN:
1873-6424
Volume
156
Issue
2
Page Numbers
233-239
Language
English
PMID
18824285
DOI
10.1016/j.envpol.2008.08.004
Web of Science Id
WOS:000261049500001
Abstract
We present direct evidence of the release of synthetic nanoparticles from urban applications into the aquatic environment. We investigated TiO(2) particles as these particles are used in large quantities in exterior paints as whitening pigments and are to some extent also present in the nano-size range. TiO(2) particles were traced from exterior facade paints to the discharge into surface waters. We used a centrifugation based sample preparation which recovers TiO(2) particles between roughly 20 and 300nm. Analytical electron microscopy revealed that TiO(2) particles are detached from new and aged facade paints by natural weather conditions and are then transported by facade runoff and are discharged into natural, receiving waters. Microscopic investigations are confirmed by bulk chemical analysis. By combining results from microscopic investigations with bulk chemical analysis we calculated the number densities of synthetic TiO(2) particles in the runoff.
Keywords
Synthetic TiO(2); Aquatic environment; Electron microscopy; Exterior paints
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