Nanomaterial exposure, toxicity, and impact on human health

Abstract

The use of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) has grown after the turn of the 21st century. Also, the production of ENM has globally grown, and exposure of workers especially via the lungs to ENM has increased. This review tackles with effects of ENM on workers’ health because occupational environment is the main source of exposure to ENM. Assessment of exposure to ENM is demanding, and today there are no occupational exposure level (OEL) for ENM. This is partly due to challenges of such measurements, and in part to the unknown causality between ENM metrics and effects. There are also marked gaps in systematic knowledge on ENM hazards. Human health surveys of exposed workers, or human field studies have not identified specific effects of ENM linking them with a specific exposure. There is, however, a consensus that material characteristics such as size, and chemistry influence effects of ENM. Available data suggest that multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) affect the immunological system and cause inflammation of the lungs, or signs of asthma whereas carbon nanofibers (CNF) may cause interstitial fibrosis. Metallic and metal oxide nanoparticles together with MWCNT induce genotoxicity, and a given type of MWCNT has been identified as a possible human carcinogen. Currently, lack of understanding of mechanisms of effects of ENM renders assessment of hazards and risks of ENM material‐by‐material a necessity. The so called “omics” approaches utilizing ENM‐induced alterations in gene and protein expression may be useful in the development of a new paradigm for ENM hazard and risk assessment. This article is categorized under: Toxicology and Regulatory Issues in Nanomedicine > Toxicology of Nanomaterials

High-performance particulate matter including nanoscale particle removal by a self-powered air filter

“…NPs, with smaller diameters and larger surface areas, are suspended for longer in the air and result in more harm to the public 5,6 . A large number of studies have found that widespread exposure to NPs is nocuous to the main organs of humans, such as the respiratory tract, skin, brain, lungs, and immune system [7][8][9][10] , leading to neuroinflammation and decreased cognitive abilities, even causing a DNA damage [11][12][13][14][15] . According to an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (ref.…”

Nanomaterials in Craniofacial Tissue Regeneration: A Review

“…Although nanomaterials have useful applications for craniofacial tissue regeneration, exposure to these materials can cause harmful effects. The small size of the nanoparticles, and their nano-intrinsic properties, allow them to interact with targets normally unreachable by their larger counterparts [74]. More specifically, nanoparticle toxicity depends on the particle size, shape, surface charge, composition, stability, and its ability to affect normal physiology through means such as oxidative stress and proinflammatory gene activation [75].…”

“…More specifically, nanoparticle toxicity depends on the particle size, shape, surface charge, composition, stability, and its ability to affect normal physiology through means such as oxidative stress and proinflammatory gene activation [75]. Nanoparticles that enter through the gastrointestinal route, for instance, can be endocytosed by intestinal epithelial cells, remain in the submucosa, or enter the bloodstream and accumulate in the liver and spleen [74,76]. Silver nanoparticles, which can act as a developmental neurotoxin in zebrafish, have been shown to distribute systemically and accumulate in various tissues following gastrointestinal absorption [75,77].…”

The Influence of The Light-Activated Titania P25 on Human Breast Cancer Cells

“…The concerns on biosafety of nanomaterials, in particular metal-based nanostructures, such as nanogold, nanosilver, and metal oxides (e.g., cerium (IV) oxide, zinc (II) oxide, titanium (IV) oxide), have been raised in the last few years, as evident in the ever-growing number of studies and scientific papers [1][2][3]. However, the last listed above-titania, widespread used as a white pigment of paints and plastics, and in many food applications (as food additive E171) and cosmetics, toothpastes and pills (as CI77891), has been considered as an inert and safe material.…”