We developed a multimedia fate and transport model (nanoFate) to predict the variability in long-term accumulation of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) across several environmental media. Previous studies on the fate of ENMs focus on steady-state conditions of ENMs in simplified environments without considering the high variability in environments and fate and transport processes. Key fate and transformation processes for metal and metal oxide ENMs were considered. We use as a case study the San Francisco Bay into which we simulate ten years of release of n-CeO2, n-CuO, n-TiO2, and n-ZnO, to demonstrate the applicability and variability resulting from predicting dynamic fate at the regional scale. Under most scenarios, TiO2, and ZnO may reach no observed effect concentrations in freshwater and not in soil. The results show that even soluble metal oxide ENMs can accumulate as ENMs in the environment in sufficient concentrations to cause toxicity. Furthermore, fluctuations in weather and release can result in circumstances where ENM concentrations reach toxic levels. By investigating both the range in rate processes and release scenarios, we explore the uncertainty in predicted environmental concentrations. The results call for further quantification of ENM fate processes to improve the accuracy of ENM environmental risk predictions.

Assessing the risk of engineered nanomaterials in the environment using the nanoFate model

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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