TiO2-based nanoparticles released in water from commercialized sunscreens in a life-cycle perspective: Structures and quantities Article

Botta, C, Labille, J, Auffan, M et al. (2011). TiO2-based nanoparticles released in water from commercialized sunscreens in a life-cycle perspective: Structures and quantities . ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, 159(6), 1543-1550. 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.03.003

cited authors

  • Botta, C; Labille, J; Auffan, M; Borschneck, D; Miche, H; Cabié, M; Masion, A; Rose, J; Bottero, JY

authors

abstract

  • This work investigates the physical-chemical evolution during artificial aging in water of four commercialized sunscreens containing TiO 2-based nanocomposites. Sunscreens were analyzed in terms of mineralogy and TiO2 concentration. The residues formed after aging were characterized in size, shape, chemistry and surface properties. The results showed that a significant fraction of nano-TiO2 residues was released from all sunscreens, despite their heterogeneous behaviors. A stable dispersion of submicronic aggregates of nanoparticles was generated, representing up to 38 w/w% of the amount of sunscreen, and containing up to 30% of the total nano-TiO2 initially present in the creams. The stability of the dispersion was tested as a function of salt concentration, revealing that in seawater conditions, a major part of these nano-TiO2 residues will aggregate and sediment. These results were put in perspective with consumption and life cycle of sunscreens to estimate the amount of nano-TiO 2 potentially released into AQUATIC environment. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

publication date

  • June 1, 2011

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 1543

end page

  • 1550

volume

  • 159

issue

  • 6