Dermal transfer quantification of nanoparticles from nano-enabled surfaces

Abstract

Engineered nanoparticles are used in various applications due to their unique properties, which has led to their widespread use in consumer products. Silver, titanium, and copper-based nanoparticles (NPs) are a few of the commonly used nanomaterials in surface coatings, mainly due to their biocidal, optical, or photocatalytical properties. The knowledge concerning potential dermal exposure to nanoparticles from nanoparticle-enabled surfaces is currently lacking, partly due to analytical challenges. The aim of this study is to perform dermal wiping tests on nano-enabled surfaces and characterize NP release from keyboard covers and freshly painted surfaces, in terms of mass and number concentration, as well as released particle size distribution through the use of spICP-MS. Three types of NPs were selected for method validation testing, Ag, TiO 2 , and CuO; and, the particle extraction from wipes was found to be efficient for Ag and CuO, but not for TiO 2 particles. Thereafter, potential dermal transfer was tested by wipe sampling for two nanoAg-containing silicon keyboard covers, and wood painted with nanoCuO-containing paint. AgNP release was observed for one of the keyboard cover types, with around 5000 particles/cm 2 (corresponding to 0.002 ng/cm 2 ) dislodged from the matrix after 3 wiping events. CuO NP release was 20000 particles/cm 2 (0.885 ng/cm 2 ) from the freshly painted surface, and magnitudes higher after the paint Wiping testParticle extraction Size distribution Mass/number concentration

Analytical applications of single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: a comprehensive and critical review

“…102 The dermal exposure from surfaces containing nanoparticles was simulated through wiping tests by using artificial sweat, followed by the extraction with water of the nanoparticles from the wipes. 103 Water extraction has also been applied to study the release of Ag nanoparticles from antibacterial plasters 104 or TiO 2 from textiles. 105 Environmental exposure to engineered nanoparticles from nanoenhanced products is related to their release and transformations that they undergo during their life cycle.…”

“…Regarding the composition of the nanoparticles, silver [95][96][97][98]100,[102][103][104]106,107,114,115,117 and titanium 101,105,112,113 are the most frequently studied, although zinc 110 and copper 103,111,116 have also been considered. Multielement monitoring has also been performed, as in the case of photovoltaic cells, 115 cookware 101 or the emission of particles from paper printing and shredding.…”