Air detoxification with nanosize TiO2 aerosol tested on mice

A method for fast air purification using high concentration aerosol of TiO2 nanoparticles is evaluated in a model chemical catastrophe involving toxic vapors of diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP). Mice are used as human model in a closed 100 dm3 chamber. Exposure of mice to 37 ppm of DFP vapor for 15 min resulted in acute poisoning. Spraying TiO2 aerosol in 2 min after the start of exposure to DFP vapors resulted in quick removal of DFP vapors from the chamber's air. Animals did not show signs of poisoning after the decontamination experiment and exposure to TiO2 aerosol alone. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant activity (AOA) of mice blood plasma were measured for animals exposed to sound of aerosol generator, DFP vapors, TiO2 aerosol and DFP vapors + TiO2 aerosol. Reduced ROS and increased AOA were found for mice exposure to sound, DFP and TiO2 aerosol. Exposure to DFP and decontamination with TiO2 nanoparticles resulted in decreased AOA in 48 h following the exposure. The results suggest that application of TiO2 aerosol is a powerful method of air purification from toxic hydrolysable compounds with moderate health aftermaths and requires further study and optimization.