Atmospheric particulate matter from an industrial area as a source of metal nanoparticle contamination in aquatic ecosystems

Author(s)

Souza, Iara da C. ^[1] ; Morozesk, Mariana ^[2] ; Mansano, Adrislaine S. ^[3] ; Mendes, Vitor A. S. ^[4] ; Azevedo, Vinicius C. ^[5] ; Matsumoto, Silvia T. ^[6] ; Elliott, Michael ^{[7, 8]} ; Monferran, V, Magdalena ; Wunderlin, Daniel A. ^{[9, 10]} ; Fernandes, Marisa N. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos DCF UFSCar, Dept Ciencias Fisiol, Ave Washington Luiz, Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Itajuba ICPA UNIFEI, Inst Ciencias Puras & Aplicadas, Irma Ivone Drumond St 200, Dist Ind 2, BR-35903087 Itabira, MG - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Phys Inst Sao Carlos IFSC, Nanomed & Nanotoxicol Grp, Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Sao Carlos DEMa UFSCar, Dept Engn Mat, Ave Washington Luiz, Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[5] Simon Fraser Univ, Dept Biol Sci, 8888 Univ Dr, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 - Canada

^[6] Univ Fed Espirito Santo DBV UFES, Dept Ciencias Biol, Ave Fernando Ferrari 514, BR-29075910 Vitoria, ES - Brazil

^[7] Univ Hull, Dept Biol & Marine Sci, Kingston Upon Hull HU6 7RX, N Humberside - England

^[8] Int Estuarine & Coastal Specialists Ltd, Leven HU17 5LQ - Scotland

^[9] Monferran, Magdalena, V, Univ Nacl Cordoba, CONICET, ICYTAC Inst Ciencia & Tecnol Alimentos Cordoba, Cdad Univ, RA-5000 Cordoba - Argentina

^[10] Monferran, Magdalena, V, Univ Nacl Cordoba, Fac Ciencias Quim, Cdad Univ, RA-5000 Cordoba - Argentina

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Science of The Total Environment; v. 753, JAN 20 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Air pollution legislation and control worldwide is based on the size of particulate matter (PM) to evaluate the effects on environmental and human health, in which the small diameter particles are considered more dangerous than larger sizes. This study investigates the composition, stability, size and dispersion of atmospheric settleable particulate matter (SePM) in an aqueous system. We aimed to interrogate the changes in the physical properties and characteristics that can contribute to increased metal uptake by aquatic biota. Samples collected in an area influenced by the steel and iron industry were separated into 8 fractions (425 to <= 10 mu m) and analysed physically and chemically. Results from ICP-MS and X-ray showed that the PM composition was mainly hematite with 80% of Fe, followed by Al, Mn and Ti. Among 27 elements analysed we found 19 metals, showing emerging metallic contaminants such as Y, Zr, Sn, La, Ba and Bi. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that SePM fractions are formed by an agglomeration of nanoparticles. Furthermore, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) demonstrated that SPM were dissociated in water, forming nanoparticles smaller than 200 nm, which can also contribute to water pollution. This study highlights that SePM contamination may be substantially higher than expected under that allowed in atmospheric regulatory frameworks, thereby extending their negative effect to water bodies upon settling, which is an underexplored area of our knowledge. We therefore provide important insights for future investigations on safety regulations involving SePM in the environment, indicating the need to revise the role of SePM, not solely associated with air pollution but also considering their deleterious effects on water resources. (c) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/03165-1 - Immunotoxic and oxidative stress potential of copper oxide and platinum nanoparticles on aquatic organisms
• Grantee: Adrislaine da Silva Mansano Dornfeld
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 19/08491-0 - Atmospheric particulate material and environmental contamination. Impact assessment in the aquatic biota in an integrated ecophysiotoxicological approach
• Grantee: Marisa Narciso Fernandes
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants