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Explora: Environment
and Resource Environmental contamination of titanium

environment. Research has demonstrated that TiO NPs effective adsorbents, such as biochar—and long-
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can have adverse effects on human health and ecosystems, term monitoring of the release and remobilization
as they accumulate in the environment and pose risks of Ti are essential. The challenges associated with
to various organisms. Given the importance and brief implementing conventional remediation techniques
overview of Ti’s application throughout history, its natural (e.g., cost, scalability, or regional feasibility) need to
occurrence, anthropogenic sources, environmental effects, be discussed in detail. Furthermore, experimental
mitigation techniques, and existing knowledge gaps methodologies for studying the long-term
regarding the long-term environmental fate of TiO₂ NPs, environmental fate of TiO₂ NPs, along with merging
the following research directions are suggested: approaches such as machine learning for Ti removal
(i) Processes of biogeochemical transformation: In from aquatic systems, need to be studied. Finally,
both terrestrial and aquatic environments, Ti can long-term environmental effects and field-based
be found in a variety of forms, such as free ionic toxicity data must be taken into account in future
species and inorganic and organic complexes. studies to bridge the knowledge gaps in these areas.
The interactions of Ti with soil and sediment (iv) Costs of remediation: It is imperative to critically
components, as well as the transformation evaluate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness
and bioavailability of Ti, are influenced by soil of existing remediation techniques, such as
properties (e.g., pH, organic matter, and clay phytoremediation and nanofiltration methods.
content), aquatic conditions (e.g., salinity and Additionally, a comparison of the strengths
dissolved organic carbon), and environmental and limitations of these methods, along with
variables (e.g., moisture content and temperature). their applicability to real-world contamination
Additional mechanistic studies are needed to scenarios, needs to be considered.
gain a comprehensive understanding of the
underlying processes that ultimately control the Acknowledgments
environmental fate and disposition of Ti.
(ii) Ecotoxicological assessment: While soluble Ti We acknowledge the administrative support of the
species in aquatic systems and soil solutions respective authors’ institutes.
are generally less harmful to living organisms, Funding
excessive accumulation of TiO NPs in soil
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and aquatic environments can be harmful None.
to organisms. Therefore, it is necessaryto
employ biomonitoring techniques to track the Conflict of interest
ecotoxicity of TiO NPs in both terrestrial and Tao Zhang and Santanu Mukherjee are Editorial Board
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aquatic environments. An analysis of gaps in Members of this journal, but was not in any way involved
current policies is needed to identify how these in the editorial and peer-review process conducted for
shortcomings can be addressed to effectively this paper, directly or indirectly. Separately, other authors
manage environmental risks, i.e., the detailed declared that they have no known competing financial
discussions of regulatory requirements for interests or personal relationships that could have
Ti contamination. Discussions on regulatory influenced the work reported in this paper.
measures regarding the use of TiO in consumer
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products are also necessary. Increasing scrutiny Author contributions
may result in stricter regulations aimed at
mitigating its environmental impact, especially as Conceptualization: Nanthi Bolan, Pingfan Zhou, Xiaodong
concerns grow overits toxicity and accumulation Yang, Jason C. White, Nubia Zuverza-Mena, Tao
in ecosystems. Zhang, Sandun Sandanayake, Meththika Vithanage,
(iii) Ti-contaminated soil and aquatic system Kadambot H.M. Siddique
remediation: To reduce the input of TiO NPs Visualization: Shailja Sharma, Shiv Bolan, Santanu
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into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems through Mukherjee, Jianjun Chen, Qing Xu, Xiangying Wei,
irrigation with recycled water and the application Shiheng Lyu
of biosolids, it is imperative to assess source control Writing – original draft: Shailja Sharma, Shiv Bolan, Santanu
strategies. To accomplish risk-based remediation, Mukherjee, Jianjun Chen, Qing Xu, Xiangying Wei,
in situ Ti stabilization techniques in contaminated Shiheng Lyu
soils and sediments—utilizing innovative and Writing – review & editing: All authors

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2025) 16 doi: 10.36922/EER025130027