However, engineered nanoparticles comprise only a small fraction of the total nanoparticle mass in aquatic systems, next to the more abundant natural nanoparticles. Accurate detection, quantification, characterization, and tracking of these different populations is important for assessing both the ecological risks of anthropogenic particles, and their impact on environmental health.
Together with colleagues from Colorado School of Mines and Western Washington University, the urban portion of the South Platte watershed in Denver, Colorado (United States) was sampled for zinc to identify and quantify different nanomaterial sources. Results obtained from single particle ICP-QMS and ICP-TOFMS, provided information about the abundance of natural compared to anthropogenic zinc nanoparticles, and suggested tire material as the most likely source. If regulation is in the future for nanomaterial emissions, the ability to distinguish between particle types will be invaluable.
