Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with their unique physico-chemical properties offer numerous technological advantages and are projected to drive the next generation of manufacturing growth. As MWCNT have already found utility in different industries including construction, engineering, energy production, space exploration and biomedicine, large quantities of MWCNT may reach the environment and inadvertently lead to human exposure. This necessitates the urgent assessment of their potential health effects in humans. The current study was carried out at NanotechCenter Ltd. Enterprise (Tambov, Russia) where large-scale manufacturing of MWCNT along with relatively high occupational exposure levels was reported. The goal of this small cross-sectional study was to evaluate potential biomarkers during occupational exposure to MWCNT. All air samples were collected at the workplaces from both specific areas and personal breathing zones using filter-based devices to quantitate elemental carbon and perform particle analysis by TEM. Biological fluids of nasal lavage, induced sputum and blood serum were obtained from MWCNT-exposed and non-exposed workers for assessment of inflammatory and fibrotic markers. It was found that exposure to MWCNTs caused significant increase in IL-1β, IL6, TNF-α, inflammatory cytokines and KL-6, a serological biomarker for interstitial lung disease in collected sputum samples. Moreover, the level of TGF-β1 was increased in serum obtained from young exposed workers. Overall, the results from this study revealed accumulation of inflammatory and fibrotic biomarkers in biofluids of workers manufacturing MWCNTs. Therefore, the biomarkers analyzed should be considered for the assessment of health effects of occupational exposure to MWCNT in cross-sectional epidemiological studies.
Aim. To assess the potential fibrogenic risk of real occupational exposure to multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). Methods. The study was conducted at 2 MWCNT-producing enterprises with the same reactor type. 11 employees who had more than 1 year-long contact with MWCNT aerosol were included in the exposure group, the control group consisted of 14 people. Elemental carbon level and MWCNT presence were evaluated in workplace air samples by transmission electron microscopy. Blood and induced sputum samples were obtained from employees, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ 1), KL-6 glycoprotein and osteopontin levels were evaluated. To assess the relationship between MWCNT exposure and biomarker levels (age, gender, smoking were chosen as cofounders), generalized linear models including main effects and paired interactions were created. The regression coefficients confidence intervals were refined by bootstrap analysis. Results. Time-weighted average respirable MWCNT fraction was up to 6.11 mg/m 3. Transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of MWCNT agglomerates sized 0.5-10 μm in all air samples. The levels of TGFβ 1 in serum were significantly dependent on exposure to MWCNTs (b=10.47, 95% BCa=1.18-51.75), the KL-6 glycoprotein levels in induced sputum was significantly higher in exposure group (b=235.9, 95% BCa=21.2-482) compared to control group. Osteopontin did not prove itself as an informative indicator. Conclusion. Gained data suggest that MWCNT aerosol exposure at workplace may lead to fibrogenic biomarkers level changes in serum and induced sputum samples. Control measures for MWCNT aerosol levels and medical surveillance for employees should be introduced in MWCNT-producing and applying facilities.
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