Analytical Spectroscopy and Sensors Group Research of Environmental Science Institute of Aragon, University of Zaragoza, has developed a new analytical technique to detect and quantify nanomaterials in natural ecosystems .

A technique called Single Particle Analysis- ICP- Mass Spectrometry to determine the size, shape, and chemical composition of nanoparticles in biological media plants and animals, soils, natural water, food, etc …, both natural and artificial origin.

The new developed analytical platform has a huge interest from two perspectives. On the one hand allows using conventional instruments, not overly expensive, control of nanomaterials in the environment, which considering its increasing use in everyday products in food, drugs, cosmetics, clothing, electronics, construction, fossil fuel additives, etc. .., and are considered by the environmental Protection Agency ( USA) and the European Union as emerging environmental contaminants .

Furthermore, this technique allows monitoring the characterization of nanomaterials from the perspective of the definition of these recently implemented by the European Union. 

Critical considerations for the determination of nanoparticle number Concentrations , size and number size distributions by single particle ICP- MS 

Laborda Francisco, Javier Jimenez – Lamana , Eduardo Bolea and Juan R. Castillo 

Group of Analytical Spectroscopy and Sensors ( GEAS ) , Environmental Sciences Institute ( IUCA ), University of Zaragoza , Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. 

J. Anal . At. Spectrom . , 2013 , 28, 1220.