Abstract Title:

Small amounts of zinc from zinc oxide particles in sunscreens applied outdoors are absorbed through human skin.

Abstract Source:

Toxicol Sci. 2010 Nov;118(1):140-9. Epub 2010 Aug 12. PMID: 20705894

Abstract Author(s):

Brian Gulson, Maxine McCall, Michael Korsch, Laura Gomez, Philip Casey, Yalchin Oytam, Alan Taylor, Malcolm McCulloch, Julie Trotter, Leslie Kinsley, Gavin Greenoak

Article Affiliation:

Graduate School of the Environment, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales 2109, Australia. [email protected]

Abstract:

Metal oxide nanoparticles are commonly used in personal-care formulations as protective agents against exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Although previous research has concluded that nanoparticles do not penetrate healthy skin, it remains contentious whether this conclusion holds under normal conditions of sunscreen use. Humans (n = 20) were exposed to sunscreens containing zinc oxide (ZnO) particles to determine if Zn from the particles was absorbed through skin over five consecutive days under outdoor conditions. Two sunscreens were tested-"nano sunscreen" containing 19-nm nanoparticles and "bulk sunscreen" containing>100-nm particles. Venous blood and urine samples were collected 8 days before exposure, twice daily during the trial, and 6 days post-exposure. As the first application in nanotechnology studies, stable isotope tracing was used where the ZnO, enriched to>99% with the stable isotope (68)Zn, allowed dermally absorbed zinc to be distinguished from naturally occurring zinc. The overwhelming majority of applied (68)Zn was not absorbed, although blood and urine samples from all subjects exhibited small increases in levels of tracer (68)Zn. The amount of tracer detected in blood after the 5-day application period was∼1/1000 th that of total Zn in the blood compartment. Tracer levels in blood continued to increase beyond the 5-day application phase in contrast to those in urine. Levels of (68)Zn in blood and urine from females receiving the nano sunscreen appeared to be higher than males receiving the same treatment and higher than all subjects receiving the bulk sunscreen. It is not known whether (68)Zn has been absorbed as ZnO particles or soluble Zn or both.

Study Type : Human Study
Additional Links
Anti Therapeutic Actions : Nanotechnology : CK(80) : AC(33)
Adverse Pharmacological Actions : Bioaccumulator : CK(115) : AC(32)

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