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Dangerous Levels of Titanium Dioxide Found in Face Masks
Alarming discoveries were introduced to the public, thanks to a study that was conducted and published by the leading journal Nature.
Levels of titanium dioxide that “systematically exceeded the acceptable exposure level” have been found in common face masks used for COVID-19, a study in Scientific Reports in leading journal Nature has found.
While we see political and entertainment elites constantly ignoring the masks, and seeing pictures on the net of them enjoying their make-up and maskless ceremonies, we have schoolchildren, private sector employees, and public workers who have experienced the physical and psychological abuse of forced masking for hours every day.
Although titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a suspected human carcinogen when inhaled, fibre-grade TiO2 (nano)particles were demonstrated in synthetic textile fibers of face masks intended for the general public. STEM-EDX analysis on sections of a variety of single use and reusable face masks visualized agglomerated near-spherical TiO2 particles in non-woven fabrics, polyester, polyamide and bi-component fibres.
Median sizes of constituent particles ranged from 89 to 184 nm, implying an important fraction of nano-sized particles (< 100 nm). The total TiO2 mass determined by ICP-OES ranged from 791 to 152,345 µg per mask.
The estimated TiO2 mass at the fibre surface ranged from 17 to 4394 µg, and systematically exceeded the acceptable exposure level to TiO2 by inhalation (3.6 µg), determined based on a scenario where face masks are worn intensively.
No assumptions were made about the likelihood of the release of TiO2 particles itself, since direct measurement of release and inhalation uptake when face masks are worn could not be assessed.
The importance of wearing face masks against COVID-19 is unquestionable. Even so, these results urge for in-depth research of (nano)technology applications in textiles to avoid possible future consequences caused by a poorly regulated use and to implement regulatory standards phasing out or limiting the amount of TiO2 particles, following the safe-by-design principle.
Median sizes of constituent particles ranged from 89 to 184 nm, implying an important fraction of nano-sized particles (< 100 nm). The total TiO2 mass determined by ICP-OES ranged from 791 to 152,345 µg per mask.
The estimated TiO2 mass at the fibre surface ranged from 17 to 4394 µg, and systematically exceeded the acceptable exposure level to TiO2 by inhalation (3.6 µg), determined based on a scenario where face masks are worn intensively.
No assumptions were made about the likelihood of the release of TiO2 particles itself, since direct measurement of release and inhalation uptake when face masks are worn could not be assessed.
The importance of wearing face masks against COVID-19 is unquestionable. Even so, these results urge for in-depth research of (nano)technology applications in textiles to avoid possible future consequences caused by a poorly regulated use and to implement regulatory standards phasing out or limiting the amount of TiO2 particles, following the safe-by-design principle.
