TY - JOUR

T1 - Potential exposure of German consumers to engineered nanoparticles in cosmetics and personal care products

AU - Lorenz, Christiane

AU - Von Goetz, Natalie

AU - Scheringer, Martin

AU - Wormuth, Matthias

AU - Hungerbühler, Konrad

PY - 2011/3/1

Y1 - 2011/3/1

N2 - The rapid increase in the number of consumer products containing engineered nanoparticles (ENP) raises concerns about an appropriate risk assessment of these products. Along with toxicological data, exposure estimates are essential for assessing risk. Currently, cosmetics and personal care products (C&PCP) represent the largest ENP-containing consumer product class on the market. We analyzed factors influencing the likelihood that ENP-containing products are available to consumers. We modelled potential external exposure of German consumers, assuming a maximum possible case where only ENP-containing products are used. The distribution of exposure levels within the population due to different behavior patterns was included by using data from an extensive database on consumer behavior. Exposure levels were found to vary significantly between products and between consumers showing different behavior patterns. The assessment scheme developed here represents a basis for refined exposure modelling as soon as more specific information about ENPs in C&PCP becomes available.

AB - The rapid increase in the number of consumer products containing engineered nanoparticles (ENP) raises concerns about an appropriate risk assessment of these products. Along with toxicological data, exposure estimates are essential for assessing risk. Currently, cosmetics and personal care products (C&PCP) represent the largest ENP-containing consumer product class on the market. We analyzed factors influencing the likelihood that ENP-containing products are available to consumers. We modelled potential external exposure of German consumers, assuming a maximum possible case where only ENP-containing products are used. The distribution of exposure levels within the population due to different behavior patterns was included by using data from an extensive database on consumer behavior. Exposure levels were found to vary significantly between products and between consumers showing different behavior patterns. The assessment scheme developed here represents a basis for refined exposure modelling as soon as more specific information about ENPs in C&PCP becomes available.

KW - Chemistry

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Body Weight

KW - Consumer Product Safety

KW - Cosmetics

KW - Environmental Exposure

KW - Female

KW - Germany

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Manufactured Materials

KW - Models, Biological

KW - Models, Chemical

KW - Nanoparticles

KW - Risk Assessment

KW - Soaps

KW - Sunscreening Agents

U2 - 10.3109/17435390.2010.484554

DO - 10.3109/17435390.2010.484554

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 21417685

VL - 5

SP - 12

EP - 29

JO - Nanotoxicology

JF - Nanotoxicology

SN - 1743-5404

IS - 1

ER -