Quantity and quality of natural organic matter influence the ecotoxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Nanoparticles’ fate is amongst other parameters determined by the quantity and quality of natural organic matter (NOM). Consequently, the ecotoxicity of nanoparticles is modified, while only little information is available on the NOM characteristics triggering this interplay. This study systematically examined how NOM quantity and quality influences the acute ecotoxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO₂) towards Daphnia magna. Therefore, two nTiO₂ products (A-100 and P25; ∼100 nm) were investigated in combination with seven NOM types of variable quality at four levels each (up to 4.00 mg total organic carbon/L). The results showed that – independent of the applied nTiO₂ product and NOM type – nTiO₂ ecotoxicity decreased up to a factor of >18 with increasing NOM concentration. More importantly, increasing levels of aromaticity and hydrophobicity of the NOM decreased the magnitude of toxic effects caused by nTiO₂, which was again independent of the nTiO₂ product tested. In the light of the ubiquitary presence of NOM, the ecotoxicological risk of nTiO₂ in surface waters with high NOM loads is likely moderate. However, interactions of nTiO₂ and NOM in combination with other natural or chemical stressors are not well-understood but seem to be fundamental for a reliable risk assessment of nanoparticles.