Exposure to nanoparticles is related to pleural effusion, pulmonary fibrosis and granuloma

Abstract

Nano materials generate great benefits as well as new potential risks. Animal studies and in vitro experiments show that nanoparticles can result in lung damage and other toxicity, but no reports on the clinical toxicity in humans due to nanoparticles have yet been made.The present study aimed to examine the relationship between a group of workers' presenting with mysterious symptomatic findings and their nanoparticle exposure.Seven young female workers (aged 18-47 yrs), exposed to nanoparticles for 5-13 months, all with shortness of breath and pleural effusions were admitted to hospital. Immunological tests, examinations of bacteriology, virology and tumour markers, bronchoscopy, internal thoracoscopy and video-assisted thoracic surgery were performed. Surveys of the workplace, clinical observations and examinations of the patients were conducted.Polyacrylate, consisting of nanoparticles, was confirmed in the workplace. Pathological examinations of patients' lung tissue displayed nonspecific pulmonary inflammation, pulmonary fibrosis and foreign-body granulomas of pleura. Using transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticles were observed to lodge in the cytoplasm and caryoplasm of pulmonary epithelial and mesothelial cells, but are also located in the chest fluid. These cases arouse concern that long-term exposure to some nanoparticles without protective measures may be related to serious damage to human lungs.

The potential health risk of titania nanoparticles

“…TNP toxicity has been observed in diverse models, such as rodents [15][16][17][18], aquatic organisms [19][20][21], and human cells [22][23][24]. Female workers were reported to experience shortness of breath and pleural effusions after 5-13 months of exposure in a polyacrylic ester nanoparticle processing factory [25], raising significant doubt about the human safety of TNPs.…”

The Risk Evaluation of Tungsten Oxide Nanoparticles in Cultured Rat Liver Cells for Its Safe Applications in Nanotechnology

“…Nowadays, nanotechnology has spawned the development of a veritable plethora of novel nanoparticles for diverse applications, ranging from solar energy capture to cosmetics and drug delivery (Riehemann et al 2009;Patel and Patel 2013). With frequent exposure to dispersed nanoparticles from the composite products or workplaces, there is an increased chance for nanoparticles or nano composites to enter human body and to relocate in metabolism-active organs (Song et al 2009). Thus, studying the toxicity of nanomaterials is of importance to provide the guidance to occupational health and safety (Li et al 2008;Lanone et al 2009;Turkez et al 2013a).…”

Nanoparticles size-dependently initiate self-limiting NETosis-driven inflammation

“…Several cells orchestrate the response to particulate agents. Epithelial cells constitute physical barriers, mononuclear phagocytes engulf and clear NPs, and granulocytes immobilize and sequester NPs, occasionally leading to granuloma formation (6).…”