Experimental evaluation of the penetration of TiO₂ nanoparticles through protective clothing and gloves under conditions simulating occupational use

Abstract

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO₂) are found in numerous manufactured products. While a few studies have been carried out to measure the efficiency of chemical protective clothing and gloves against nanoparticles (NPs), they have generally not considered the conditions prevailing in occupational settings. This study was designed to evaluate the resistance of protective clothing against NPs under conditions simulating occupational use. Nitrile and butyl rubber gloves, as well as cotton/polyester woven and polyolefin non-woven clothing samples were placed into contact with nTiO₂ in the form of powders or colloidal solutions. Simultaneously, mechanical deformations were applied to the samples. Preliminary results showed that nTiO₂ may penetrate some of the materials after prolonged dynamic deformations and/or when the NPs are in colloidal solutions. The effect was partly attributed to modifications in the physical and mechanical properties of protective materials that were induced by repetitive mechanical deformations.

Keywords:

• titanium dioxide nanoparticles
• protective clothing
• protective gloves; occupational use

Acknowledgements

This project was conducted within the context of the Research Chair in Protective Materials and Equipment for Occupational Safety and Health (École de technologie supérieure). It has been supported by the Institut Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), NanoQuébec, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail (ANSES) and the Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maıtrise de l’Énergie (ADEME). The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of S. Mahé, A. Jambou and F. Deltombe (École de technologie supérieure) to the project as well as the collaboration of P. Plamondon and G. L'Espérance (École Polytechnique de Montréal).