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Engineered TiO₂ nanoparticles (TiO₂-NPs) are present in a large variety of consumer products, and are produced in largest amount. The building industry is a major sector using TiO₂-NPs, especially in paints. The fate of NPs after their release in the environment is still largely unknown, and their possible transfer in plants and subsequent impacts have not been studied in detail. The foliar transfer pathway is even less understood than the root pathway. In this study, lettuces were exposed to pristine TiO₂-NPs and aged paint leachate containing TiO₂-NPs and microparticles (TiO₂-MPs). Internalization and in situ speciation of Ti were investigated by a combination of microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. Not only TiO₂-NPs pristine and from aged paints, but also TiO₂-MPs were internalized in lettuce leaves, and observed in all types of tissues. No change in speciation was noticed, but an organic coating of TiO₂ …