An approach to the natural and engineered nanoparticles analysis in the environment by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Different approaches to the most relevant and recent studies and applications of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) applied to the analysis of natural and engineered nanoparticles in the environment are described. Usually several separation methods like polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), field-flow fractionation (FFF) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) are used prior to the mass spectrometric measurements. In many cases the use of these hyphenated techniques provides important methodologies to know the bioavailability, mobility and toxicity of elements in life and environmental sciences. Alternatively, the capabilities of the single particle detection by ICP-MS (SD-ICP-MS) for the selective identification, characterization and determination of engineered nanoparticles will be also discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.