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Safety evaluation of hair-dryers marketed as emitting nano silver particles
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Safety evaluation of hair-dryers marketed as emitting nano silver particles

Alicia A. Taylor, M. Yusuf Khan, Jennifer Helbley and Sharon L. Walker
Safety science, v 93, 121
Mar 2017
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2016.11.021View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Escherichia coli Hair-dryer Kirby Bauer assay Silver nanoparticle Toxicity
•Hair dryers are marketed as emitting silver nanoparticles.•Hair dryers were assessed with air-particle characterization techniques Silver was not detected.•Bacteria were used in the Kirby-Bauer assay to simulate skin flora exposure to silver nanoparticles.•This work hopes to provide information so that consumers can make more informed choices when purchasing products. Nanoparticle infused personal care products are becoming more common as consumer products. One example is a hair-dryer marketed as emitting silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The purpose of the silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) is to give hair a sleek, shiny look while also promoting antimicrobial effects. This study investigates release of Ag NPs from hair-dryers and the effects associated with Ag NPs to the human epidural flora. To give an estimation of consumer exposure to Ag NPs with these products, three brands of hair-dryers were selected and particle samples emitted from the hair-dryers were collected based on size fractionation. Collected particles underwent elemental analysis. Silver was not detected in any of the samples. The Kirby-Bauer assay was used to detect a toxicity dose response relationship over a range of silver nanoparticles and silver nitrate (AgNO3) concentrations using five model bacteria species. This portion of the work represented the microbial response to Ag NPs and acted as a proxy for epidural microbial exposure to Ag NPs emitted from a hair-dryer. Findings from this study such as the recorded release of nanoparticles from the hair-dryers and the potential microbial toxicity effects caused from nanoparticle exposure will help consumers make more informed decisions regarding nanoparticle infused products.

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5 citations in Scopus

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

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Collaboration types
Industry collaboration
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Engineering, Industrial
Operations Research & Management Science
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