Abstract
The lack of regulations regarding the manufacture of nanoparticle-containing products has enabled the release of many consumer products into the market with uncorroborated claims. Silver nanoparticles are commonly used in consumer goods, particularly in medical and household products. This study was designed to evaluate the aerosol exposure of silver nanoparticles from two consumer spray products currently on the market that claim to contain silver nanoparticles for antibacterial purposes. The study relies on our current understanding of various sampling and analytical methods to effectively evaluate aerosolized nanoparticles, particularly at low concentrations. To characterize low-concentration nanoparticles, various sophisticated sampling methods, including a NanoScan scanning mobility particle sizer, an optical particle sizer, an impinger, and diffusion samplers, were utilized to quantify, collect, and analyze the chemical compositions of the aerosolized products. Our results show that while both products aerosolize silver particles when sprayed, the emitted nanoparticles contain a low concentration of silver and vary in size and overall chemical composition. Further investigation of silver nanoparticle commercial spray products is needed to assess exposure risk and inform health professionals, industrial hygienists, and the general public regarding disparities in product marketing claims and nanoparticle aerosol exposure.
Highlights
Silver nanoparticles (NPs) are agglomerates of silver that range from 1 to 100 nm in diameter.While NPs can occur naturally, the synthesis and use of engineered silver NPs is popular today, to take advantage of the antimicrobial properties of these particles
The particle concentrations and sizes measured by two NanoScan scanning mobility particle sizers (SMPS) and optical particle sizer (OPS) were analyzed to provide averaged data across the three repeated experiments
Starting at the tenth minute, the increases in concentration are attributed to the emission of particles in the aerosolized product
Summary
Silver nanoparticles (NPs) are agglomerates of silver that range from 1 to 100 nm in diameter.While NPs can occur naturally, the synthesis and use of engineered silver NPs is popular today, to take advantage of the antimicrobial properties of these particles. 0.01 mg/m3 respectively, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Mine Safety and Health Administration, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health exposure have declared a limit of only 0.01 mg/m3 for all forms of silver [2]. These threshold limits are not applied to exposure that results from the use of consumer products, allowing products to be released into the market without disclosing any warnings regarding concentration or the potential for Atmosphere 2020, 11, 403; doi:10.3390/atmos11040403 www.mdpi.com/journal/atmosphere
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