Release from nanotextiles
The potential for nanomaterials to be released from consumer goods is not in itself a new topic, but the basis of scientific understanding of released particles and the transformations they may undergo during the products life cycle (e.g. during storage, use and disposal) is often hampered by the narrow scope of many research endeavors in terms of both the breadth of variables studied and the completeness of characterization using multiple analytical methods. Additionally, studies of sequential aging of products representing multiple stages of the life cycle are scarce. In order to bridge these gaps for the release of nanomaterials from textiles, we conducted a suite of comprehensive studies over the last years which allowed us to suggest some overarching themes for finding important mechanisms and parameters for particle transformations when still adhered to the fabric or when released.
Publications
Mitrano, D. M.; Arroyo, Y.; Nowack, B. (2015) Effect of variations of washing solution chemistry on nanomaterial physico-chemical changes in the laundry cycle. Environ. Sci. Technol. 49: 9665-9673. pdf
Mitrano, D.; Rimmele, E.; Wichser, A.; Erni, R.; Height, M.; Nowack, B. (2014) Presence of nanoparticles in wash water from conventional silver and nano-silver textiles. ACS Nano 8: 7208–7219. pdf
Lombi, E.; Donner, E.; Scheckel, K.; Sekine, R.; Lorenz, C.; von Götz, N.; Nowack, B. (2014) Silver speciation and release in commercial antimicrobial textiles as influenced by washing. Chemosphere 111: 352-358. pdf
von Goetz, N.; Lorenz, C.; Windler, L.; Nowack, B.; Heuberger, M.; Hungerbühler, K. (2013) Migration of Ag- and TiO2-nanoparticles from textiles into artificial sweat under physical stress: Experiments and exposure modeling. Environ. Sci Technol. 47: 9979-9987. (pdf)
Windler, L.; Height, M.; Nowack, B. (2013) Comparative evaluation of antimicrobials for textile applications. Environ. Int.53: 62–73. (pdf)
Lorenz, C.; Windler, L.; von Goetz, N.; Lehmann, R. P.; Schuppler, M.; Hungerbühler, K.; Heuberger, M.; Nowack, B. (2012) Characterization of silver release from commercially available functional (nano)textiles. Chemosphere, 89: 817–824. (pdf)
Windler, L.; von Goetz, N.; Hungerbühler, K.; Amberg, M.; Heuberger, M.; Nowack, B. (2012) Release of titanium dioxide from textiles during washing. Environ. Sci. Technol. 46: 8181-8188. (pdf)
Geranio, L.; Heuberger, M.; Nowack, B. (2009) Behavior of silver nano-textiles during washing. Environ. Sci. Technol. 43: 8113-8118. (pdf)
Selected press coverage
Empa
Technology & Society Laboratory
Lerchenfeldstrasse 5
CH-9014 St. Gallen
Tel.: +41 58 765 76 92
nowack@empa.ch