Exposure to ZnO/TiO 2 Nanoparticles Affects Health Outcomes in Cosmetics Salesclerks

Ching-Chang Lee, Yi-Hsin Lin, Wen-Che Hou, Meng-Han Li and Jung-Wei Chang
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Ching-Chang Lee: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
Yi-Hsin Lin: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
Wen-Che Hou: Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
Meng-Han Li: Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
Jung-Wei Chang: Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-12

Abstract: Concerns about the effects of nanoparticles (NPs) on human health are being raised by researchers because the risks of nanocosmetics like sunscreen are unknown. We explored the association between urinary oxidative stress markers and exposure of cosmetics salesclerks to 20 cosmetics that might contain titanium dioxide (TiO 2 )/zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs. We then recruited 40 cosmetics salesclerks and 24 clothing salesclerks and categorized them based on their exposure to ZnO and TiO 2 NPs. Nineteen and 15 samples met the EU definition for TiO 2 and ZnO nanomaterials, respectively. Participants with a higher co-exposure index of ZnO and TiO 2 NPs had a significantly higher base level of urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosin (8-OHdG) concentrations than the lower co-exposure group (5.82 vs. 2.85 ng/mL, p < 0.001). After potential confounding factors had been adjusted for, the TiO 2 and ZnO NP co-exposure index was significantly positively associated with the urinary 8-OHdG base concentration (β = 0.308, 95% CI = 0.106 to 0.510) and the creatinine-adjusted concentration (β = 0.486, 95% CI = 0.017 to 0.954). Current evidence suggests that the likelihood of harm from using sunscreens containing nanoparticles might result in higher urinary 8-OHdG. However, our limited number and types of sample cosmetics might underestimate the risk.

Keywords: nanocosmetics; zinc oxide; titanium dioxide; oxidative stress markers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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