Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle are important products for nanotechnology and widely used in air, soil, and water remediation, because of its high stability and anticorrosion and photo-catalytic properties. Around two million tons of TiO2 nanoparticles are produced in the world every year and widely used. In particular, TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles are prevalently used in cosmetic products including sunscreens. The increase in the use and production of nanoparticles leads to potential environmental problem and human health risks due to increased exposure to nanomaterials. According to the previous study, a dermal exposure for sunscreen has been estimated to be 284 mg TiO2/ kg bw with a content of 10% nano-TiO2. In the present study, we have monitored the released TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles from sunscreens in swimming pools in Korea. We have characterized the physicochemical properties including size, shape, surface area, surface chemistry of TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles in sunscreens. We have determined the released TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles from sunscreens in swimming pools using ICP-MS and single particle ICP-MS. Total titanium concentrations in the swimming pool ranged between 1 μg/L and 10 μg/L.

Monitoring released TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles in swimming pool

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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