Biological monitoring of workers exposed to engineered nanomaterials

Abstract

As the number of nanomaterial workers increase there is need to consider whether biomonitoring of exposure should be used as a routine risk management tool. Currently, no biomonitoring of nanomaterials is mandated by authoritative or regulatory agencies. However, there is a growing knowledge base to support such biomonitoring, but further research is needed as are investigations of priorities for biomonitoring. That research should be focused on validation of biomarkers of exposure and effect. Some biomarkers of effect are generally nonspecific. These biomarkers need further interpretation before they should be used. Overall biomonitoring of nanomaterial workers may be important to supplement risk assessment and risk management efforts.

Nanoparticles: An Experimental Study of Zinc Nanoparticles Toxicity on Marine Crustaceans. General Overview on the Health Implications in Humans

“…Other studies in the past described the development of zinc fever after exposure to 5 mg/m 3 and a slight increase in body temperature after exposure to 2.5 mg/m 3 ZnO NPs (98,99). Exposure to ZnO NPs confirmed the higher incidence of cardiovascular disease found in welders (7,8). Increases in the number of blood leukocytes and the amount of highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) due to the exposure to 1.5 mg/m 3 ZnO NPs from the welding fumes of zinc coated steel were also reported in different studies (11,(100)(101)(102).…”

Nanoparticles: An Experimental Study of Zinc Nanoparticles Toxicity on Marine Crustaceans. General Overview on the Health Implications in Humans

“…Other studies in the past described the development of zinc fever after exposure to 5 mg/m 3 and a slight increase in body temperature after exposure to 2.5 mg/m 3 ZnO NPs (98,99). Exposure to ZnO NPs confirmed the higher incidence of cardiovascular disease found in welders (7,8). Increases in the number of blood leukocytes and the amount of highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) due to the exposure to 1.5 mg/m 3 ZnO NPs from the welding fumes of zinc coated steel were also reported in different studies (11,(100)(101)(102).…”

In vitro inflammatory and cytotoxic responses of human alveolar cells to amorphous silica nanoparticles exposure

“…Current research predominantly focuses on short-term effects, leaving critical gaps regarding prolonged exposure, particularly in occupational settings [9,21]. The unique properties of nanomaterials-such as high surface area, reactivity, and potential for bioaccumulation-complicate toxicological assessments and may lead to diverse biological interactions depending on particle size, shape, and surface chemistry [64][65][66]. Furthermore, the lack of standardized methodologies for evaluating NP toxicity presents challenges in comparing results across studies and drawing definitive conclusions about long-term safety [64].…”

A Biomonitoring Pilot Study in Workers from a Paints Production Plant Exposed to Pigment-Grade Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)

“…This biomarker-based approach to assess early effects in workers exposed to nanoobjects has been recommended as a component of a strategy to risk assessment and management in the workplace [54][55][56]. In order to enable feasible and acceptable routine screenings in populations at risk, biomarkers that could be analysed in biological matrices collected by non-invasive procedures are of particular relevance.…”

“…Thus, in spite of several drawbacks in implementing an integrated strategy [54], biomonitoring enables regular exposure and health assessment and can support effective risk management [54][55][56]. Owing to the small number of subjects evaluated and the intrinsic variability of biomarkers, the observed changes along with their health significance must be assessed in a long-term perspective.…”

“…In order to enable feasible and acceptable routine screenings in populations at risk, biomarkers that could be analysed in biological matrices collected by non-invasive procedures are of particular relevance. From this perspective, exhaled breath condensates (EBC), exhaled air (EA) and urine are three preferred biological matrices for the non-invasive investigation of biomarkers in workers exposed to UFPs and nanomaterials, as they give insights on local (pulmonary) and systemic oxidative stress and inflammatory response [13,20,21,54,55,56,57,58,59]. Although we recognise the higher performance of the LC-MS/MS technique for the quantification of some biomarkers of oxidative stress as compared to ELISA assays [60,61], we acknowledge that ELISA are less time-consuming and more cost-effective techniques, which do not require particular laboratory equipment and highly-trained operators.…”

Nanoparticles: An Experimental Study of Zinc Nanoparticles Toxicity on Marine Crustaceans. General Overview on the Health Implications in Humans

“…Other studies in the past described the development of zinc fever after exposure to 5 mg/m 3 and a slight increase in body temperature after exposure to 2.5 mg/m 3 ZnO NPs (98,99). Exposure to ZnO NPs confirmed the higher incidence of cardiovascular disease found in welders (7,8). Increases in the number of blood leukocytes and the amount of highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) due to the exposure to 1.5 mg/m 3 ZnO NPs from the welding fumes of zinc coated steel were also reported in different studies (11,(100)(101)(102).…”

In vitro inflammatory and cytotoxic responses of human alveolar cells to amorphous silica nanoparticles exposure

“…Current research predominantly focuses on short-term effects, leaving critical gaps regarding prolonged exposure, particularly in occupational settings [9,21]. The unique properties of nanomaterials-such as high surface area, reactivity, and potential for bioaccumulation-complicate toxicological assessments and may lead to diverse biological interactions depending on particle size, shape, and surface chemistry [64][65][66]. Furthermore, the lack of standardized methodologies for evaluating NP toxicity presents challenges in comparing results across studies and drawing definitive conclusions about long-term safety [64].…”

A Biomonitoring Pilot Study in Workers from a Paints Production Plant Exposed to Pigment-Grade Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)

“…This biomarker-based approach to assess early effects in workers exposed to nanoobjects has been recommended as a component of a strategy to risk assessment and management in the workplace [54][55][56]. In order to enable feasible and acceptable routine screenings in populations at risk, biomarkers that could be analysed in biological matrices collected by non-invasive procedures are of particular relevance.…”

“…Thus, in spite of several drawbacks in implementing an integrated strategy [54], biomonitoring enables regular exposure and health assessment and can support effective risk management [54][55][56]. Owing to the small number of subjects evaluated and the intrinsic variability of biomarkers, the observed changes along with their health significance must be assessed in a long-term perspective.…”

“…In order to enable feasible and acceptable routine screenings in populations at risk, biomarkers that could be analysed in biological matrices collected by non-invasive procedures are of particular relevance. From this perspective, exhaled breath condensates (EBC), exhaled air (EA) and urine are three preferred biological matrices for the non-invasive investigation of biomarkers in workers exposed to UFPs and nanomaterials, as they give insights on local (pulmonary) and systemic oxidative stress and inflammatory response [13,20,21,54,55,56,57,58,59]. Although we recognise the higher performance of the LC-MS/MS technique for the quantification of some biomarkers of oxidative stress as compared to ELISA assays [60,61], we acknowledge that ELISA are less time-consuming and more cost-effective techniques, which do not require particular laboratory equipment and highly-trained operators.…”

Nanoparticles: An Experimental Study of Zinc Nanoparticles Toxicity on Marine Crustaceans. General Overview on the Health Implications in Humans

“…Other studies in the past described the development of zinc fever after exposure to 5 mg/m 3 and a slight increase in body temperature after exposure to 2.5 mg/m 3 ZnO NPs (98,99). Exposure to ZnO NPs confirmed the higher incidence of cardiovascular disease found in welders (7,8). Increases in the number of blood leukocytes and the amount of highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) due to the exposure to 1.5 mg/m 3 ZnO NPs from the welding fumes of zinc coated steel were also reported in different studies (11,(100)(101)(102).…”

In vitro inflammatory and cytotoxic responses of human alveolar cells to amorphous silica nanoparticles exposure

“…Current research predominantly focuses on short-term effects, leaving critical gaps regarding prolonged exposure, particularly in occupational settings [9,21]. The unique properties of nanomaterials-such as high surface area, reactivity, and potential for bioaccumulation-complicate toxicological assessments and may lead to diverse biological interactions depending on particle size, shape, and surface chemistry [64][65][66]. Furthermore, the lack of standardized methodologies for evaluating NP toxicity presents challenges in comparing results across studies and drawing definitive conclusions about long-term safety [64].…”

A Biomonitoring Pilot Study in Workers from a Paints Production Plant Exposed to Pigment-Grade Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)

“…This biomarker-based approach to assess early effects in workers exposed to nanoobjects has been recommended as a component of a strategy to risk assessment and management in the workplace [54][55][56]. In order to enable feasible and acceptable routine screenings in populations at risk, biomarkers that could be analysed in biological matrices collected by non-invasive procedures are of particular relevance.…”

“…Thus, in spite of several drawbacks in implementing an integrated strategy [54], biomonitoring enables regular exposure and health assessment and can support effective risk management [54][55][56]. Owing to the small number of subjects evaluated and the intrinsic variability of biomarkers, the observed changes along with their health significance must be assessed in a long-term perspective.…”

“…In order to enable feasible and acceptable routine screenings in populations at risk, biomarkers that could be analysed in biological matrices collected by non-invasive procedures are of particular relevance. From this perspective, exhaled breath condensates (EBC), exhaled air (EA) and urine are three preferred biological matrices for the non-invasive investigation of biomarkers in workers exposed to UFPs and nanomaterials, as they give insights on local (pulmonary) and systemic oxidative stress and inflammatory response [13,20,21,54,55,56,57,58,59]. Although we recognise the higher performance of the LC-MS/MS technique for the quantification of some biomarkers of oxidative stress as compared to ELISA assays [60,61], we acknowledge that ELISA are less time-consuming and more cost-effective techniques, which do not require particular laboratory equipment and highly-trained operators.…”