Products containing silver nanoparticles are entering the market rapidly, but little is known about the potential for inhalation exposure to nanosilver. The objectives of this work were to characterize the emissions of airborne particles from consumer products that claim to contain silver nanoparticles or ions, determine the relationship between emissions and the products' liquid characteristics, and assess the potential for inhalation exposure to silver during product use. Three products were investigated: an antiodor spray for hunters, a surface disinfectant, and a throat spray. Products emitted 0.24-56 ng of silver in aerosols per spray action. The plurality of silver was found in aerosols 1-2.5 μm in diameter for two products. Both the products' liquid characteristics and the bottles' spray mechanisms played roles in determining the size distribution of total aerosols, and the size of silver-containing aerosols emitted by the products was largely independent of the silver size distributions in the liquid phase. Silver was associated with chlorine in most samples. Results demonstrate that the normal use of silver-containing spray products carries the potential for inhalation of silver-containing aerosols. Exposure modeling suggests that up to 70 ng of silver may deposit in the respiratory tract during product use.

We assessed the potential for children's exposure to bioavailable silver during the realistic use of selected nanotechnology-based consumer products (plush toy, fabric products, breast milk storage bags, sippy cups, cleaning products, humidifiers, and humidifier accessory). We measured the release of ionic and particulate silver from products into water, orange juice, milk formula, synthetic saliva, sweat, and urine (1:50 product to liquid mass ratio); into air; and onto dermal wipes. Of the liquid media, sweat and urine yielded the highest amount of silver release, up to 38% of the silver mass in products; tap water yielded the lowest amount, ≤1.5%. Leaching from a blanket into sweat plateaued within 5 min, with less silver released after washing. Between 0.3 and 23 μg m(-2) of silver transferred from products to wipes. Aerosol concentrations were not significantly elevated during product use. Fabrics, a plush toy, and cleaning products were most likely to release silver. Silver leached mainly via dissolution and was facilitated in media with high salt concentrations. Levels of silver to which children may potentially be exposed during the normal use of these consumer products is predicted to be low, and bioavailable silver is expected to be in ionic rather than particulate form.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are gaining attention from the academic and regulatory communities, not only because of their antimicrobial effects and subsequent product applications, but also because of their potential health and environmental risks. Whereas AgNPs in the aqueous phase are under intensive study, those in the atmosphere have been largely overlooked, although it is well established that inhalation of nanoparticles is associated with adverse health effects. This review summarizes the present state of knowledge concerning airborne AgNPs to shed light on the possible environmental exposure scenarios that may accompany the production and popularization of silver nanotechnology consumer products. The current understanding of the toxicity of AgNPs points toward a potential threat via the inhalation exposure route. Nanoparticle size, chemical composition, crystal structure, surface area, and the rate of silver ion release are expected to be important variables in determining toxicity. Possible routes of aerosolization of AgNPs from the production, use, and disposal of existing consumer products are presented. It is estimated that approximately 14% of silver nanotechnology products that have been inventoried could potentially release silver particles into the air during use, whether through spraying, dry powder dispersion, or other methods. In laboratory and industrial settings, six methods of aerosolization have been used to produce airborne AgNPs: spray atomization, liquid-flame spray, thermal evaporation-condensation, chemical vaporization, dry powder dispersion, and manual handling. Fundamental uncertainties remain about the fate of AgNPs in the environment, their short- and long-term health effects, and the specific physical and chemical properties of airborne particles that are responsible for health effects. Thus, to better understand the risks associated with silver nanotechnology, it is vital to understand the conditions under which AgNPs could become airborne.

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ResumoO objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade do ar em três categorias de ambientes hospitalares: unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI) adulto, UTI neonatal (UTN) e centro cirúrgico de um hospital em Florianópolis, Brasil. Avaliaram-se a concentração de dióxido de carbono, a vazão e renovação de ar nas salas do centro cirúrgico. A concentração de bioaerossóis foi estimada em um dia de avaliação para cada ambiente. Não se observou relação entre a concentração de bioaerossóis e o tempo de uso das salas de cirurgia. A concentração média de bioaerossóis foi de 231 UFC.m -3 para fungos e de 187 UFC.m -3 para bactérias. Os ambientes avaliados atendiam aos valores recomendados pela legislação vigente. Os resultados permitiram avaliar criticamente essa legislação e apresentar sugestões para estabelecimento de uma resolução específica para ambientes hospitalares no Brasil.Palavras-chave: ambiente hospitalar; bioaerossol; dióxido de carbono; qualidade do ar de interiores. AbstractThe objective of this paper was to evaluate the air quality in three indoor hospital environments: a neonatal intensive care unit (ICU), an adult ICU and a surgical ward of a hospital in Florianópolis, Brazil. Carbon dioxide concentrations, exchange air flow rates as well as fungi and bacteria concentrations were measured in these rooms. Bioaerosol concentrations were evaluated throughout one-work day for each operating room. No relationship was observed between bioaerosol concentration and the period of use in the surgical ward. Average bioaerosol concentrations were of 231 UFC.m -3 for filamentous fungi and 187 UFC.m -3 for bacteria. All environments evaluated were, overall, in compliance with current legislations. Results allowed a critical review of the present regulations and suggestions for the establishment of a specific regulation for hospital environments in Brazil.