Titanium dioxide particles frequently present in face masks intended for general use require regulatory control

Although titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) is a suspected human carcinogen when inhaled, fiber-grade TiO 2 (nano)particles were demonstrated in synthetic textile fibers of face masks intended for the general public. STEM-EDX analysis on sections of a variety of single use and reusable face masks visualized...

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Vydáno v:	Scientific reports Ročník 12; číslo 1; s. 2529 - 9
Hlavní autoři:	Verleysen, Eveline, Ledecq, Marina, Siciliani, Lisa, Cheyns, Karlien, Vleminckx, Christiane, Blaude, Marie-Noelle, De Vos, Sandra, Brassinne, Frédéric, Van Steen, Frederic, Nkenda, Régis, Machiels, Ronny, Waegeneers, Nadia, Van Loco, Joris, Mast, Jan
Médium:	Journal Article
Jazyk:	angličtina
Vydáno:	London Nature Publishing Group UK 15.02.2022 Nature Publishing Group Nature Portfolio
Témata:	639/301/357/354 639/925/929/170 639/925/929/353 Carcinogens COVID-19 COVID-19 - prevention & control COVID-19 - virology Face Fibers Humanities and Social Sciences Humans Inhalation Inhalation Exposure - analysis Masks Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry Microscopy, Electron, Transmission multidisciplinary Particle Size Polyamides SARS-CoV-2 - isolation & purification Science Science (multidisciplinary) Social Control, Formal Spectrophotometry, Atomic Textile fibers Textiles Textiles - analysis Titanium - analysis Titanium dioxide
ISSN:	2045-2322, 2045-2322
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Shrnutí:	Although titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) is a suspected human carcinogen when inhaled, fiber-grade TiO 2 (nano)particles were demonstrated in synthetic textile fibers of face masks intended for the general public. STEM-EDX analysis on sections of a variety of single use and reusable face masks visualized agglomerated near-spherical TiO 2 particles in non-woven fabrics, polyester, polyamide and bi-component fibers. Median sizes of constituent particles ranged from 89 to 184 nm, implying an important fraction of nano-sized particles (< 100 nm). The total TiO 2 mass determined by ICP-OES ranged from 791 to 152,345 µg per mask. The estimated TiO 2 mass at the fiber surface ranged from 17 to 4394 µg, and systematically exceeded the acceptable exposure level to TiO 2 by inhalation (3.6 µg), determined based on a scenario where face masks are worn intensively. No assumptions were made about the likelihood of the release of TiO 2 particles itself, since direct measurement of release and inhalation uptake when face masks are worn could not be assessed. The importance of wearing face masks against COVID-19 is unquestionable. Even so, these results urge for in depth research of (nano)technology applications in textiles to avoid possible future consequences caused by a poorly regulated use and to implement regulatory standards phasing out or limiting the amount of TiO 2 particles, following the safe-by-design principle.
Bibliografie:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 14 content type line 23
ISSN:	2045-2322 2045-2322
DOI:	10.1038/s41598-022-06605-w