Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 3, 2025
14:53
In Situ Detection and Single Cell Quantification of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Using Nuclear Microprobe Analysis
Published on: February 3, 2018
7.4K
Quantification of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in human urine by single-particle ICP-MS
Samantha Salou1,2, Dominic Larivière3, Ciprian-Mihai Cirtiu4
1Chemistry Department, Université Laval, 1045 Ave de la Médecine, Quebec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
|October 30, 2020
Summary
A new method accurately quantifies titanium dioxide nanoparticles in urine, addressing safety concerns from consumer product exposure. This breakthrough enables better human exposure monitoring for this emerging nanopollutant.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are increasingly used in consumer products, raising human safety concerns.
- Assessing nanoparticle exposure in biological samples like urine is challenging due to metrology limitations and low concentrations.
- There is a need for reliable methods to track human exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a quantification method for titanium dioxide nanoparticles in human urine.
- To establish a reliable bioassay for monitoring exposure to this emerging nanopollutant.
Main Methods:
- Development and validation of a quantification method for titanium dioxide nanoparticles in urine.
- Utilized single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS).
- Method validation followed ISO/CEI 17025:2017 guidelines.
Main Results:
- Achieved a detection limit of 0.05 ng mL⁻¹ for titanium dioxide nanoparticle mass concentration.
- Determined a particle size limit approaching 50 nm.
- Demonstrated good method performance with repeatability (14%), reproducibility (18%), trueness (98%), and recovery (84%).
Conclusions:
- The developed SP-ICP-MS method is suitable for quantifying titanium dioxide nanoparticles in urine.
- This validated method can facilitate human exposure assessment for titanium dioxide nanoparticles.
- Enables better understanding of the risks associated with titanium dioxide nanoparticle exposure from consumer products.
