Engineered Nanoparticles (ENPs) are present in a multitude of merchandise including sunscreens, pharmaceuticals, cleaning products, food, and clothing. This study evaluated the effects of physically wearing sports socks on the amount and properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) released during washing. Weekly office usage (four days of wearing socks for regular office type activities) was evaluated over three successive weeks for three pairs of socks assigned to three separate people. Following each week of wearing, socks were washed using an adapted ISO 105-C06 protocol where each pair of socks was washed in 300 ml of liquid detergent solution (4 g/L) for 45 minutes at 40°C and 150 rpm with polypropylene balls to enhance friction. Total silver released into the wash water was quantified via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), with ionic content evaluated via centrifugation and 10kDa molecular weight cut-off filters, and particle size distribution evaluated via single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS). Over the same period sock fibres were tracked via scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) imaging with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for total silver. Both neutron activation analysis (NAA) and acid digestion with ICP-MS were used to validate the XRF techniques. The original socks were off-the-shelf products from a Canadian-based sports clothing distributor, and contained approximately 2,000 mg/kg silver. Results showed that wearing affected both the amount and the properties of AgNPs released during washing. Both the sock characterization and characteristics of the AgNPs in the wash water will be presented for the three successive weeks studied.

Influence of wear and tear on the release of silver nanoparticles from sports socks

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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