title: Potential exposure of German consumers to engineered nanoparticles in cosmetics and personal care products.
abstract: The rapid increase in the number of consumer products containing engineered nanoparticles (ENP) raises concerns about an appropriate risk assessment of these products. Along with toxicological data, exposure estimates are essential for assessing risk. Currently, cosmetics and personal care products (C&PCP) represent the largest ENP-containing consumer product class on the market. We analyzed factors influencing the likelihood that ENP-containing products are available to consumers. We modelled potential external exposure of German consumers, assuming a maximum possible case where only ENP-containing products are used. The distribution of exposure levels within the population due to different behavior patterns was included by using data from an extensive database on consumer behavior. Exposure levels were found to vary significantly between products and between consumers showing different behavior patterns. The assessment scheme developed here represents a basis for refined exposure modelling as soon as more specific information about ENPs in C&PCP becomes available.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Von Goetz
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scheringer
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wormuth
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hungerbühler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008420:Manufactured Materials / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000633:toxicity; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000633:toxicity; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012915:Soaps / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D012915:Soaps; D013473:Sunscreening Agents