title: Synthetic TiO2 nanoparticle emission from exterior facades into the aquatic environment.
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.
authors.affiliation: Eawag, Ueberlandstrasse 133, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland. ralf.kaegi@eawag.ch
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaegi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sinnet
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vonbank
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wichser
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zuleeg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Simmler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vonmont
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burkhardt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boller
mesh_terms: D002947:Cities; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000032:analysis*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000032:analysis*; D010150:Paint; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011891:Rain / Q000737:chemistry; D013995:Time; D014025:Titanium / Q000032:analysis*; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium