An integrated methodology for the assessment of environmental health implications during thermal decomposition of nano-enabled products

Sotiriou, Georgios A.; Singh, Dilpreet; Zhang, Fang; Wohlleben, Wendel; Chalbot, Marie-Cécile G.; Kavouras, Ilias G.; Demokritou, Philip

doi:10.1039/c4en00210e

Cited by 40 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 53 publications

(80 reference statements)

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“…Within the literature there is evidence indicating the host matrix influences the release kinetics and properties of released PM during thermal decomposition (Hirth et al , 2013; Sotiriou, et al, 2016; Sotiriou, et al, 2015). Moreover, numerous studies have linked toxins and particles released from thermally decomposed polymers to toxicity in cellular systems (Kitahara, et al, 2010).…”

Section: 0 Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The INEXS platform (Supplemental Figure 1) was used here to perform a systematic investigation of the thermal decomposition of NEPs under controlled combustion conditions and to generate the required LCPM particles for toxicological evaluation (Sotiriou et al , 2015). In summary, the platform enables thermal decomposition of an NEP, post-release treatment of the released aerosol through one of the three possible routes, and the detailed physicochemical, morphological and toxicological characterization of the byproducts, both in situ and ex situ.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The lack of comprehensive end of life cycle studies is mainly due to inadequate standardized methods across the continuum of LCPM exposure generation-characterization and subsequent toxicological assessment. Recently, the Integrated Exposure Generation System (INEXS) was developed in our lab for systematically and reproducibly investigating the thermal decomposition of NEPs under controlled conditions (Sotiriou et al, 2015). INEXS allows for a detailed in-situ and ex-situ physicochemical, morphological and toxicological characterization of the byproducts, namely, the released aerosol (life cycle particulate matter, LCPM) and the remaining residual ash (see Methods for more details on INEXS platform).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Toxicological implications of released particulate matter during thermal decomposition of nano-enabled thermoplastics

Watson-Wright¹,

Singh²,

Demokritou³

2017

NanoImpact

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Nano-enabled thermoplastics are part of the growing market of nano-enabled products (NEPs) that have vast utility in several industries and consumer goods. The use and disposal of NEPs at their end of life has raised concerns about the potential release of constituent engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) during thermal decomposition and their impact on environmental health and safety. To investigate this issue, industrially relevant nano-enabled thermoplastics including polyurethane, polycarbonate, and polypropylene containing carbon nanotubes (0.1 and 3% w/v, respectively), polyethylene containing nanoscale iron oxide (5% w/v), and ethylene vinyl acetate containing nanoscale titania (2 and 5% w/v) along with their pure thermoplastic matrices were thermally decomposed using the recently developed lab based Integrated Exposure Generation System (INEXS). The life cycle released particulate matter (called LCPM) was monitored using real time instrumentation, size fractionated, sampled, extracted and prepared for toxicological analysis using primary small airway epithelial cells to assess potential toxicological effects. Various cellular assays were used to assess reactive oxygen species and total glutathione as measurements of oxidative stress along with mitochondrial function, cellular viability, and DNA damage. By comparing toxicological profiles of LCPM released from polymer only (control) with nano-enabled LCPM, potential nanofiller effects due to the use of ENMs were determined. We observed associations between NEP properties such as the percent nanofiller loading, host matrix, and nanofiller chemical composition and the physico-chemical properties of released LCPM, which were linked to biological outcomes. More specifically, an increase in percent nanofiller loading promoted a toxicological response independent of increasing LCPM dose. Importantly, differences in host matrix and nanofiller composition were shown to enhance biological activity and toxicity of LCPM. This work highlights the importance of assessing the toxicological properties of LCPM and raises environmental health and safety concerns of nano-enabled products at their end of life during thermal decomposition/incineration.

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Section: 0 Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Toxicological implications of released particulate matter during thermal decomposition of nano-enabled thermoplastics

Watson-Wright¹,

Singh²,

Demokritou³

2017

NanoImpact

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“…The growing number of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) utilized in a wide variety of consumer products and biomedical applications has led to increasing concerns of environmental and occupational exposures [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. The unique physicochemical properties that distinguish ENMs from their micron-sized counterparts (reactive surface area, surface energy, mobility, quantum size effects, etc.)…”

Section: Abstract: Dosimetry • Fate and Transport Modeling • Hazard Rmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Critical Review of in Vitro Dosimetry for Engineered Nanomaterials

Cohen¹,

DeLoid²,

Demokritou³

2015

Nanomedicine (Lond.)

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A major obstacle in the development of accurate cellular models for investigating nanobio interactions in vitro is determination of physiologically relevant measures of dose. Comparison of biological responses to nanoparticle exposure typically relies on administered dose metrics such as mass concentration of suspended particles, rather than the effective dose of particles that actually comes in contact with the cells over the time of exposure. Adoption of recently developed dosimetric methodologies will facilitate determination of effective dose delivered to cells in vitro, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of in vitro screening data, validation of in vitro with in vivo data, and comparison across multiple datasets for the large variety of nanomaterials currently in the market.

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“…(24,35–39) The most commonly used direct-reading instruments for CNT assessments include aerodynamic particle sizers (APSs), (26–29,40) condensation particle counters (CPCs), (26,27,29,30,33,34,41) optical particle counters (OPCs), (26,30,41) scanning- and fast-mobility particle sizers (SMPSs/FMPSs), (26–29,34,40–42) electrical low pressure impactors (ELPIs), (41,42) diffusion chargers (DCs), (33,41) and differential mobility analyzers (DMAs). (26,34) These real-time methods can provide measures of the surface area, number concentration, mass concentration, and/or electrical mobility of particles either directly or through calculations using particle size distributions; they are, however, insensitive to particle composition and geometry.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Raman spectroscopy to identify carbon nanotube contamination at an analytical balance workstation

Braun

Huang

Tusa

et al. 2016

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

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Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are cylindrical molecules of carbon with diverse commercial applications. CNTs are also lightweight, easily airborne, and have been shown to be released during various phases of production and use. Therefore, as global CNT production increases, so do concerns that CNTs could pose a safety threat to those who are exposed to them. This makes it imperative to fully understand CNT release scenarios to make accurate risk assessments and to implement effective control measures. However, the current suite of direct-reading and off-line instrumentation used to monitor the release of CNTs in workplaces lack high chemical specificity, which complicates risk assessments when the sampling and/or measurements are performed at a single site where multiple CNT types are handled in the presence of naturally-occurring background particles, or dust. Herein, we demonstrate the utility of Raman spectroscopy to unequivocally identify whether particulate matter collected from a multi-user analytical balance workstation comprised CNTs, as well as, whether the contamination included CNTs that were synthesized by a Ni/Y-catalyzed electric-arc method or a Co/Mo-catalyzed chemical vapor deposition method. Identifying the exact CNT type generated a more accurate risk assessment by knowing the metallic impurities involved, and it also led to the identification of the users who handled these CNTs, a review of their handling techniques, and an improved protocol for safely weighing CNTs.

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An integrated methodology for the assessment of environmental health implications during thermal decomposition of nano-enabled products

Cited by 40 publications

References 53 publications

Toxicological implications of released particulate matter during thermal decomposition of nano-enabled thermoplastics

Toxicological implications of released particulate matter during thermal decomposition of nano-enabled thermoplastics

A Critical Review of in Vitro Dosimetry for Engineered Nanomaterials

Use of Raman spectroscopy to identify carbon nanotube contamination at an analytical balance workstation

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