A work group report on ultrafine particles (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology): Why ambient ultrafine and engineered nanoparticles should receive special attention for possible adverse health outcomes in human subjects

Abstract

Ultrafine particles are airborne particulates of less than 100 nm in aerodynamic diameter. Examples of ultrafine particles are diesel exhaust particles, products of cooking, heating and wood burning in indoor environments, and more recently, products generated through the use of nanotechnology. Studies have shown that ambient ultrafine particles have detrimental effects on both the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, including a higher incidence of atherosclerosis and the exacerbation rate of asthma. Ultrafine particles have been found to alter in vitro and in vivo responses of the immune system to allergens and may also play a role in allergen sensitization. The inflammatory properties of ultrafine particles may be mediated by a number of different mechanisms, including the ability to produce reactive oxygen species, leading to the generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and airway inflammation. In addition, because of their small size, ultrafine particles also have unique distribution characteristics in the respiratory tree and circulation and may be able to alter cellular function in ways that circumvent normal signaling pathways. Additionally, ultrafine particles can penetrate intracellularly and potentially cause DNA damage. The recent advances in nanotechnology, while opening up new opportunities for the advancement of technology and medicine, could also lead to unforeseen adverse health effects in exposed humans. Further research is needed to clarify the safety of nanoscale particles, as well as the elucidation of the possible beneficial use of these particulates to treat disease.

Assessing the Risk of Engineered Nanomaterials in the Environment: Development and Application of the nanoFate Model

“…SSDs not already published in the literature are presented in Figure S21. 143 Models are always simplifications developed for specific objectives. In this case, the objective was to evaluate the largescale regional fate of specific ENMs and provide a rapidscreening tool.…”

Genotoxicity, biochemical, and biodistribution studies of magnesium oxide nano and microparticles in albino wistar rats after 28‐day repeated oral exposure

“…Nanoparticles (NPs) with their varied physicochemical properties, elicit a wide range of physiological responses such as distribution patterns and interactions with biological molecules . Although, particle size and surface area of the particles are important features that affect in vivo bio reactivity, crystal structure, purity, hydrodynamic size, and aggregation nature of the NPs in aqueous media also regulate the biological response .…”

Comparison of Lung Damages Due to Petrol and Diesel Car Smoke Exposures: Histological Study

“…Previous studies showed that particle exposures have resulted in the respiratory inflammation response [18], alveolar enlargement [19], oxidative stress [20], and alveolar lavage fluids [21]. The allergy response was the most reported cases [22], [23]. The other circumstances were influenza-like illness [24], alveolar emphysema [25], lung cancer [26], and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [27].…”