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A Review of Selected Engineered Nanoparticles in the Atmosphere: Sources, Transformations, and Techniques for Sampling and Analysis
Citation:
Majestic, B. J., G. B. Erdakos, M. LEWANDOWSKI, K. OLIVER, R. WILLIS, T. E. KLEINDIENST, AND P. BHAVE. A Review of Selected Engineered Nanoparticles in the Atmosphere: Sources, Transformations, and Techniques for Sampling and Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. Abel Publication Services, Burlington, NC, 16(4):488-507, (2010).
Impact/Purpose:
The National Exposure Research Laboratory′s (NERL) Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division (HEASD) conducts research in support of EPA′s mission to protect human health and the environment. HEASD′s research program supports Goal 1 (Clean Air) and Goal 4 (Healthy People) of EPA′s strategic plan. More specifically, our division conducts research to characterize the movement of pollutants from the source to contact with humans. Our multidisciplinary research program produces Methods, Measurements, and Models to identify relationships between and characterize processes that link source emissions, environmental concentrations, human exposures, and target-tissue dose. The impact of these tools is improved regulatory programs and policies for EPA.
Description:
A state-of-the-science review was undertaken to identify and assess sampling and analysis methods to detect and quantify selected nanomaterials (NMs) in the ambient atmosphere. The review is restricted to five types of NMs of interest to the Office of Research and Development Nanomaterial Research Strategy (US Environmental Protection Agency): cerium oxide, titanium dioxide, carbon anostructures (carbon nanotubes and fullerenes), zero-valent iron, and silver nanoparticles. One purpose was determining the extent to which present-day ultrafine sampling and analysis methods may be sufficient for identifying and possibly quantifying engineered NMs (ENMs) in ambient air. Conventional sampling methods for ultrafines appear to require modifications. For cerium and titanium, background levels from natural sources make measurement of ENMs difficult to quantify. In cases where field studies have been performed, identification from bulk analysis samples have been made. Further development of methods is needed to identify these NMs, especially in specific size fractions of ambient aerosols.
URLs/Downloads:
A Review of Selected Engineered Nanoparticles in the Atmosphere: Sources, Transformations, and Techniques for Sampling and Analysis (PDF, NA pp, 11980 KB, about PDF)International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health
