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Nanoscale TiO2 particles: relationship between surface properties and toxicity measurements

Hurel, C.; Clement, L.; Jordan, N.; Weiß, S.; Marmier, N.

Titanium oxides nanoparticles have been widely used in industrial applications such as cosmetics, food industries, environment, paints and surface coatings…Face to their growing use in various domains and the difficulties to separate them from the aqueous phase during wastewaters treatment due to their nanometric size, one can expect that the final host for these particles should be environmental compartments (soil, air and water).
Nanometric-sized particles are known to cause pulmonary damages and to be toxic for mammals (mice, rats). Nevertheless, few studies dealt with the toxic impact of nanoparticles with ecosystems. Previous studies have shown that the toxic effect was dependent (i) on the size of the particles and (ii) on the allotropic form of TiO2 (anatase or rutile). But a lack of information remains concerning the relationship between the surface properties of TiO2 nanoparticles (surface site density, surface charge) and the observed toxicity.
In this study we were interested in anatase (15 nm, 32 nm, 44 μm) and rutile (1 μm) commercial particles. Their toxic effect (acute or chronic) versus microcrustaceans, algae and plants was measured and compared to the particles size. Surface properties of each TiO2 particles were determined by acid-base titration, and electrokinetics measurements, in order to complete data concerning the relationship between nanoparticles toxicity, size and allotropic form.

Keywords: TiO2; nanoparticles; toxicity

  • Lecture (Conference)
    Interfaces Against Pollution, 11.-14.06.2012, Nancy, France

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-17194
Publ.-Id: 17194