Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026

Plasma Polishing as a New Polishing Option to Reduce the Surface Roughness of Porous Titanium Alloy for 3D Printing
Published on: April 28, 2023
Titanium distribution in swimming pool water is dominated by dissolved species
R David Holbrook1, Donna Motabar, Oscar Quiñones
1Materials Measurement Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 6371, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA. dave.holbrook@nist.gov
Abstract:
The increased use of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) in consumer products such as sunscreen has raised concerns about their possible risk to human and environmental health. In this work, we report the occurrence, size fractionation and behavior of titanium (Ti) in a children's swimming pool. Size-fractionated samples were analyzed for Ti using ICP-MS. Total titanium concentrations ([Ti]) in the pool water ranged between 21 μg/L and 60 μg/L and increased throughout the 101-day sampling period while [Ti] in tap water remained relatively constant. The majority of [Ti] was found in the dissolved phase (<1 kDa), with only a minor fraction of total [Ti] being considered either particulate or microparticulate. Simple models suggest that evaporation may account for the observed variation in [Ti], while sunscreen may be a relevant source of particulate and microparticule Ti. Compared to diet, incidental ingestion of nano-Ti from swimming pool water is minimal.
Related Concept Videos
Factors Affecting Solubility
Composition of Body Fluids
Properties of Transition Metals
Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles
EDTA: Chemistry and Properties
Complexometric Titration: Ligands

