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HERO ID
157933
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
A pilot study on the percutaneous absorption of microfine titanium dioxide from sunscreens
Author(s)
Tan, MH; Commens, CA; Burnett, L; Snitch, PJ
Year
1996
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
Australasian Journal of Dermatology
ISSN:
0004-8380
EISSN:
1440-0960
Volume
37
Issue
4
Page Numbers
185-187
Language
English
PMID
8961584
DOI
10.1111/j.1440-0960.1996.tb01050.x
Abstract
Many Australians are being advised to apply microfine titanium dioxide sunscreen daily from the cradle to the grave. However, there is a surprising lack of data on the percutaneous absorption of microfine titanium dioxide. A prospective pilot study was conducted to analyse the percutaneous absorption of microfine titanium dioxide from sunscreens. Selected patients scheduled to have skin surgery, applied titanium dioxide sunscreen to the skin daily for 2-6 weeks prior to their operation. After excision, the stratum corneum of the sample was stripped and the titanium concentration of the remaining epidermis and dermis was measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The results from this pilot study showed that levels of titanium in the epidermis and dermis of subjects who applied microfine titanium dioxide to their skin were higher than the levels of titanium found in controls. Studies with larger cohorts are necessary to establish if this absorption is statistically significant.
Keywords
Skin; toxicity; ultraiine
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