title: TiO₂-based nanoparticles released in water from commercialized sunscreens in a life-cycle perspective: structures and quantities.
abstract: This work investigates the physical-chemical evolution during artificial aging in water of four commercialized sunscreens containing TiO₂-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-TiO₂ potentially released into AQUATIC environment.
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille Université, CEREGE UMR 6635, CNRS, Europôle Méditerranéen de l'Arbois, BP 80, F-13545 Aix en Provence cedex 04, France.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Botta
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Labille
authors.forename: Mélanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Auffan
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Borschneck
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miche
authors.forename: Martiane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cabié
authors.forename: Armand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masion
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Bottero
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007700:Kinetics; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015394:Molecular Structure; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D014025:Titanium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium