Risk assessment of trace metals in sunblock creams using DABCOnium-based ionic liquid–functionalized magnetic nanoparticles

Abstract

In the present study, we synthesized DABCOnium-based-Brønsted acidic ionic liquid–functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@(SU-DBC) NPs). Their structure was characterized using various morphological and physicochemical techniques such as SEM, powder-XRD, XPS, FTIR, VSM, and BET. The Fe₃O₄@(SU-DBC) NPs have remarkable magnetic recovery, extensive colloidal stability, and excellent recyclability. The fabricated ionic liquid–modified magnetic NPs show capability for magnetic dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction (MD-μ-SPE) of trace metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb) from sunblock cream samples. Micro-sampling flame atomic absorption spectrometry (MS-FAAS) was used to analyze the analytes. For evaluating the simultaneous effects of various parameters on the extraction efficiency, a central composite design was employed. In the method validation, the recoveries ranged from 97.84 to 102.36%, with relative standard deviations of 0.97% to 3.27%. The detection limits of the proposed method ranged between 0.067 and 0.715 μg kg⁻¹. The developed method showed high sensitivity and precision, and stable recovery. Health risks were evaluated using the margin of safety (MoS), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and lifetime cancer risk (LCR). Sunblock creams' MoS, HQ, and HI values were within permissible ranges, but LCR values were higher than permitted.