Size-Specific, Dynamic, Probabilistic Material Flow Analysis of Titanium Dioxide Releases into the Environment

Most of the existing exposure models for engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) do not consider particle size, crystalline forms, and coating materials that all may influence material’s fate, transport, toxicity. Our work aimed to incorporate size distributions into a material flow analysis (MFA) develop size-specific, dynamic, probabilistic MFA model (ss-DPMFA). Using titanium dioxide (TiO2) as first case study, we determine contribution conventional TiO2 pigments total amount nanoscale released environment. Besides providing information on mass flows, new used forms describe stocks flows TiO2. The most striking modeling result emerge was before ENMs came onto market such in 2000, 22,400 tons nanosized (<100 nm) particles had already been environment, originating from pigments. Even 2016, 50% wastewater fraction Quantitative data distribution environment can be input environmental fate models. ss-DPMFA model’s additional insights about coatings could pave way advanced size- form-specific hazard risk assessments other ecological systems.