Trace Elements and Nanomaterials, Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Uccle, Belgium.
Risk and Health Impact Assessment, Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.
Sci Total Environ. 2023 Apr 20;870:161889. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161889. Epub 2023 Jan 31.
Silver-based biocides are applied in face masks because of their antimicrobial properties. The added value of biocidal silver treatment of face masks to control SARS-CoV-2 infection needs to be balanced against possible toxicity due to inhalation exposure. Direct measurement of silver (particle) release to estimate exposure is problematic. Therefore, this study optimized methodologies to characterize silver-based biocides directly in the face masks, by measuring their total silver content using ICP-MS and ICP-OES based methods, and by visualizing the type(s) and localization of silver-based biocides using electron microscopy based methods. Thirteen of 20 selected masks intended for general use contained detectable amounts of silver ranging from 3 μg to 235 mg. Four of these masks contained silver nanoparticles, of which one mask was silver coated. Comparison of the silver content with limit values derived from existing inhalation exposure limits for both silver ions and silver nanoparticles allowed to differentiate safe face masks from face masks that require a more extensive safety assessment. These findings urge for in depth characterization of the applications of silver-based biocides and for the implementation of regulatory standards, quality control and product development based on the safe-by-design principle for nanotechnology applications in face masks in general.
银基杀菌剂因其抗菌性能而被应用于口罩中。在控制 SARS-CoV-2 感染方面，口罩进行杀菌银处理的附加值需要与吸入暴露可能产生的毒性相平衡。直接测量银（颗粒）的释放以估计暴露量是有问题的。因此，本研究通过使用 ICP-MS 和 ICP-OES 基于方法测量其总银含量，以及使用基于电子显微镜的方法可视化银基杀菌剂的类型和定位，优化了直接在口罩中对银基杀菌剂进行特征描述的方法。20 个选定的普通口罩中有 13 个含有可检测到的银，含量从 3μg 到 235mg 不等。其中四个口罩含有纳米银，其中一个口罩是银涂层。将银含量与现有吸入暴露限值（包括银离子和纳米银）中得出的限值进行比较，可以区分需要更广泛安全评估的口罩和安全的口罩。这些发现敦促对银基杀菌剂的应用进行深入的特性描述，并根据安全设计原则实施监管标准、质量控制和产品开发，以确保纳米技术在一般口罩中的应用安全。
