Case Study on Risk Evaluation of Silver Nanoparticle Exposure from Antibacterial Sprays Containing Silver Nanoparticles

This study evaluated the risk of silver nanoparticle (AgNP) exposure from antibacterial sprays containing AgNPs. Using an exposure simulation chamber as the setting for the experiment, various instruments, including a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS), condensation particle counter (CPC), dust monitor, and mixed cellulose esters (MCE) filters, are connected to the chamber to measure the exposure levels of AgNPs when using the sprays. To assess potential risks to consumers, margin of exposure (MOE) approach was used to assess risk in which a calculated MOE was compared with a target MOE. When evaluating the risk of antibacterial sprays to inhalation exposure using the MOE, spraying a whole can and spraying an air conditioner both resulted in a high-risk concern level with a MOE ranging from 59 to 146 that was much lower than the no-risk concern level of 1000, while some spray showed a MOE 2049 with no-risk concern level. The dermal exposure levels with a single layer of clothing were estimated at 2-50 mu g/kg/day with a MOE ranging from 20,000 to 500,000. Therefore, the current results showed the possibility of high-risk inhalation exposure to AgNPs released when using antibacterial sprays.This research was supported by the "Development of Safety-Evaluation-Based Technology for Nanoproducts to Promote Commercialization (10047829)" and "Development of Highly Usable Nanomaterial Inhalation Toxicity Testing System in Commerce (10052901)" through the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology by the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy