Nanosized aerosols from consumer sprays: experimental analysis and exposure modeling for four commercial products

Abstract

Consumer spray products are already on the market in the cosmetics and household sector, which suggest by their label that they contain engineered nanoparticles (ENP). Sprays are considered critical for human health, because the lungs represent a major route for the uptake of ENP into the human body. To contribute to the exposure assessment of ENP in consumer spray products, we analyzed ENP in four commercially available sprays: one antiperspirant, two shoe impregnation sprays, and one plant-strengthening agent. The spray dispersions were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) and (scanning-) transmission electron microscopy ((S)TEM). Aerosols were generated by using the original vessels, and analyzed by scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) and (S)TEM. On the basis of SMPS results, the nanosized aerosol depositing in the respiratory tract was modeled for female and male consumers. The derived exposure levels reflect a single spray application. We identified ENP in the dispersions of two products (shoe impregnation and plant spray). Nanosized aerosols were observed in three products that contained propellant gas. The aerosol number concentration increased linearly with the sprayed amount, with the highest concentration resulting from the antiperspirant. Modeled aerosol exposure levels were in the range of 10 10 nanosized aerosol components per person and application event for the antiperspirant and the impregnation sprays, with the largest fraction of nanosized aerosol depositing in the alveolar region. Negligible exposure from the application of the plant spray (pump spray) was observed.Keywords Consumer exposure Á Spray products Á Zinc oxide Á Silver Á Nanoparticles Á Aerosol analysis Á Health effects Á EHS Abbreviations ENPEngineered nanoparticles with diameter less than 100 nm Spray dispersion Low volatile substances of the spray products, left-over after evaporation of solvents due to Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article

Comparative modeling of exposure to airborne nanoparticles released by consumer spray products

“…The propellant spray generated droplets with diameters in the nanometer range, while the pump spray produced large droplets that fell to the bottom of the chamber without reaching the detector. A similar difference between pump and propellant spray was found investigating four commercial sprays (Lorenz et al, 2011). In one case, no particles were found in the aerosol although silver was present; and in a second spray zinc oxide NPs were found.…”

“…At this concentration, a low degree of agglomeration can be assumed and thus the modeling should be specific for nanomaterials. Moreover, this dose is within the higher range found in several consumer sprays on the market (Chen et al, 2010;Lorenz et al, 2011). For calculations, we assumed that the spray liquid is an aqueous suspension of the NPs that is dispersed into nanoscale droplets using a propellant.…”

“…The liquid of the third spray was free of NPs, but NPs were found in the aerosol. This was probably due to formation of NPs from polyacrylate during the spraying (Lorenz et al, 2011). Another experimental setup for the determination of NPs in sprays has been described by Chen et al (2010).…”

Current uses of nanomaterials in biocidal products and treated articles in the EU

“…Similar output is also possible with other tools such as asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (AF4) combined with ICP-MS or UV-Vis. 43,44 Other products that have been addressed in the literature and experimentally investigated include various dietary supplements that contain Ag nanoparticles, 45,46 disinfectant sprays with Ag or ZnO NPs 47,48 and different food products such as e.g. chicken meat with Ag.…”

Detection, characterization and quantification of inorganic engineered nanomaterials: A review of techniques and methodological approaches for the analysis of complex samples

“…In relation with complex samples, electron microscopy has been successfully applied to characterize TiO 2 nanoparticles in sewage sludge and soils amended with sewage sludge [84] or with biosolids [85], or to investigate the presence of ENPs in release studies: Ag NPs from a washing machine effluent [86] and from water-based nano-Ag spray products [87], TiO 2 NPs from textiles [88], or SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 from chemical mechanical planarization process wastewater [89]. SEM and TEM-based studies highlighted the relevance of the detection and characterisation of ENPs in many products of our daily life: Ag in washing solutions from commercial detergents [90], Ag and ZnO in spray products [91], TiO 2 and ZnO in sunscreens [74], metallic NPs in dietary supplement drinks [92], Ag in pears [93], SiO 2 in tomato soup [81] or coffee creamer [55], TiO 2 and ZnO in starch, yam starch, and wheat flour [94], or TiO 2 in foods and consumer product [95]. Regarding the implications of the presence of ENPs in biological samples, TEM can provide the most detailed information regarding in vitro nanoparticle uptake and localization by allowing both visualization of nanoparticle position within a cell or tissue and, in conjunction with spectroscopic methods, characterization of the composition of the internalised nanoparticles [96][97][98][99][100][101].…”