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

ABSTRACT: Although titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is a suspected human carcinogen when inhaled, fiber-grade TiO₂ (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 TiO₂ 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 TiO₂ mass determined by ICP-OES ranged from 791 to 152,345 µg per mask. The estimated TiO₂ mass at the fiber surface ranged from 17 to 4394 µg, and systematically exceeded the acceptable exposure

SUBMITTER: Verleysen E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8847427 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature