Detection and quantification of engineered particles in urban runoff

Abstract

Urban runoff conveys contaminants including titanium dioxide (TiO2), widely used as engineered nanoparticles (e.g., 1–100 nm) and pigments (e.g., 100–300 nm) in the urban environment, to receiving surface waters. Yet, the concentrations of TiO2 engineered particles (e.g., engineered nanoparticles and pigments) in urban runoff has not been determined due to difficulties in distinguishing natural from engineered TiO2 particles in environmental matrices. The present study examines the occurrence and estimates the concentrations of TiO2 engineered particles in urban runoff under wet- and dry-weather conditions. Urban runoff was collected from two bridges in Columbia, South Carolina, USA under wet-weather conditions and from the Ballona Creek and Los Angeles (LA) River in Los Angeles, California, USA under dry-weather conditions. The concentrations of TiO2 engineered particles were determined by mass balance calculations based on shifts in elemental concentration ratios in urban runoff relative to natural background elemental ratios. Elemental ratios of Ti to Nb in urban runoff were higher than the natural background ratios, indicating Ti contamination. The occurrence of TiO2 engineered particles was further confirmed by transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The concentration of TiO2 engineered particles in urban runoff was estimated to be in the range of 5–150 μg L−1. Therefore, this study identifies urban runoff as a previously unaccounted source of TiO2 engineered particle release to the environment, which should be included in engineered nanoparticle fate modeling studies and in estimating environmental release of engineered nanoparticles.