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. 2021 Sep;36(3):e2021022-0.
doi: 10.5620/eaht.2021022. Epub 2021 Sep 28.

Evaluation of potential eye or skin irritation/corrosion in rabbit exposed to TiO2 photocatalyst (GST)

Sang Ho Kim  1 , Myeong Kyu Park  1 , Ja Kyung Seol  1 , Jae Min Im  1 , Hae Sung Park  1 , Heung Sik Seo  1 , Hee Ju Park  2 , Sung Soon Nah  3
Affiliations

Evaluation of potential eye or skin irritation/corrosion in rabbit exposed to TiO2 photocatalyst (GST)

Sang Ho Kim et al. Environ Anal Health Toxicol. 2021 Sep.

Abstract

TiO2 NPs photocatalyst is widely used in a variety of applications and products in the environmental and energy fields, including self-cleaning surfaces, air and water purification systems, sterilization, hydrogen evolution, and photoelectrochemical conversion. The possible biological and safety effects of TiO2 dermal exposure and absorption have not been well studied and more investigations on the potential health hazards of the TiO2 are needed. This study aimed to investigate potential effect of local lesions (eye and skin irritation/corrosion) for new TiO2 material powder, GST produced through sludge recycling of the sewage treatment plant in according to the OECD test guideline (TG 404, 405) and imaging evaluation (micro-computed tomography analysis), histopathology examination. Also, P-25, commercial photocatalyst was used to compare with GST. For the eye or skin irritation/corrosion test, the test substances (GST, P-25) showed no irritation/corrosion for local lesions and the GHS category was identified as a "No hazard class". The imaging analysis indicated that GST did not penetrate or distribute in the local lesions (eye, skin) and the treatment-related effect was not observed in histopathology. Therefore, the present study revealed that new TiO2 powder, GST was considered to be no potential effects (irritation/corrosion), penetration or distribution in the local lesions (eye, skin).

Keywords: Corrosion; Eye; GST; Irritation; Skin; TiO2.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Characterization of TiO2 particles (GST): (a) Negative zeta potential (-35.4 mV, 30 mg/mL); (b) SEM (scanning electron microscope) image.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Characterization of TiO2 particles (GST): (a) A particles dispersed in 99.9 % EtOH was deposited on a copper grid and analyzed by TEM (Transmission electron microscope) image; (b) Size distribution of the imaged GST.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Eye photographs observed at 24 hours after application of test substance, P-25 (No eye reaction): (a) Initial test; (b) Confirmatory test.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Eye photographs observed at 72 hours after application of test substance, P-25 (No eye reaction): (a) Initial test; (b) Confirmatory test.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Eye photographs observed at 24 hours after application of test substance, GST (conjunctivae redness): (a) Initial test; (b) Confirmatory test.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Eye photographs observed at 72 hours after application of test substance, GST (conjunctivae redness was recovered): (a) Initial test; (b) Confirmatory test.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Skin photographs observed at 24, 72 hours after application of test substance, P-25 (No skin reaction): (a) Initial test; (b) Confirmatory test.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Skin photographs observed at 24, 72 hours after application of test substance, GST (No skin reaction): (a) Initial test; (b) Confirmatory test.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Eye micro-CT photographs (GST): (a) Eye photographs at 1 hours after application (Left: control, Right: test substance); (b) Eye photographs at 24 hours after application (Left: control, Right: test substance). *White spot: test substance, arrow: conjunctival sac site (red).
Figure 10
Figure 10
Skin micro-CT photographs (GST): (a) Skin photographs at 1 hours after removing patch (Left: control site, Right: test substance site); (b) Skin photographs at 24 hours after removing patch (Left: control site, Right: test substance site). *White: test substance, Red arrow: epidermis.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Eye photographs including the cornea, iris, lens, retina and accessory organs (GST): (a) Histological section of eye at 1 hour after application (Left: control, Right: test substance); (b) Histological section of eye at 24 hours after application (Left: control, Right: test substance). *Arrow: cornea (red), iris (blue), lens (black), retina (green).
Figure 11
Figure 11
Skin photographs including epidermis, dermis and panniculus carnosus (GST): (a) Histological section of skin at 1 hour after removing patch (Left: control, Right: test substance); (b) Histological section of skin at 24 hours after removing patch (Left: control site, Right: test substance site). * Arrow: epidermis (red), dermis (blue).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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