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A weight-of-evidence approach to identify nanomaterials in consumer products: a case study of nanoparticles in commercial sunscreens

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 26, pages 26–34 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

Nanoscale ingredients in commercial products represent a point of emerging environmental concern due to recent findings that correlate toxicity with small particle size. A weight-of-evidence (WOE) approach based upon multiple lines of evidence (LOE) is developed here to assess nanomaterials as they exist in consumer product formulations, providing a qualitative assessment regarding the presence of nanomaterials, along with a baseline estimate of nanoparticle concentration if nanomaterials do exist. Electron microscopy, analytical separations, and X-ray detection methods were used to identify and characterize nanomaterials in sunscreen formulations. The WOE/LOE approach as applied to four commercial sunscreen products indicated that all four contained at least 10% dispersed primary particles having at least one dimension <100 nm in size. Analytical analyses confirmed that these constituents were comprised of zinc oxide (ZnO) or titanium dioxide (TiO2). The screening approaches developed herein offer a streamlined, facile means to identify potentially hazardous nanomaterial constituents with minimal abrasive processing of the raw material.

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Acknowledgements

The use of trade, product, or firm names in this report is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the US Government. Permission was granted by the Chief of Engineers to publish this information. The findings of this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Laboratory, US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA

    Michael F Cuddy, Aimee R Poda & Jeffery A Steevens

  2. Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA

    Robert D Moser & Charles A Weiss

  3. Independent Consultant, Nyack, New York, USA

    Carolyn Cairns

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  1. Michael F Cuddy
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  2. Aimee R Poda
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Correspondence to Michael F Cuddy.

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Cuddy, M., Poda, A., Moser, R. et al. A weight-of-evidence approach to identify nanomaterials in consumer products: a case study of nanoparticles in commercial sunscreens. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 26, 26–34 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2015.51

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