Nanomaterials in Humans

Abstract

Nanomaterials are increasingly being used for commercial purposes. However, concerns about the potential risks of exposure to humans have been raised. We previously reported unusual pulmonary disease and death in a group of patients with occupational exposure to spray paint. However, the nanoparticle and chemical composition of the exposure was not fully described. The present study aimed to isolate and identify the nanoparticles observed in the patients' biopsies and report the potential deleterious effects to human lungs using electron microscopy. Using electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray analysis, silica nanoparticles were identified and characterized mainly in macrophages, pulmonary microvessels, vascular endothelial cells, microlymphatic vessels, pleural effusions, and a few in alveolar epithelial cells and pulmonary interstitial tissue (with no microscale particles present). Notably, damage to alveolar epithelial cells, macrophages, vascular endothelial cells, and the blood-gas barrier was observed. Given the well-documented toxicity of microscale silica, it is possible that these silica nanoparticles may have contributed in part to the illness reported in these workers. Such a possibility supports the adoption of controls and prevention strategies to minimize inhalation of nanoparticles by workers, and it highlights the urgent need and the importance of the nanosafety study in humans.

Biocompatibility assessment of Si-based nano- and micro-particles

“…After eighteen months of the disease, the amount of nanoparticles found in the pulmonary cells and macrophages was lower, but fibrous SiO nanostructures with lengths around 70 nm were detected in the nucleus and cytoplasm of alveolar epithelial cells. [158] It is thought that the exposure to SiO NPs from aerosol paint may have contributed to the patients’ illnesses. Therefore, it is important to completely understand the issues underlying nanosystems prior to using them.…”

Metal load assessment in patient pulmonary lavages: towards a comprehensive mineralogical analysis including the nano-sized fraction

“…But in humans, very few studies are available. Song et al (Song et al, 2011 found silica nanoparticles in clinical samples from 7 patients suffering from lung injuries after an occupational exposure. But as these patients were exposed to other toxic substances than dust and polyacrylate nanoparticles no firm conclusion could be reached.…”

Mechanisms of carbon nanotube-induced toxicity: Focus on oxidative stress

“…Some reports describing serious adverse effects of occupational exposure to ENMs have been published: These include several cases of rescue workers present at the World Trade Center in New York City after the tragic events of 9/11 (Aldrich et al, 2010; Gupta, 2011; NIOSH, 2011; Romano, 2011; Zeig-Owens et al, 2011), reports of occupational exposures to mixtures containing nanoparticles in factories in China and India (Jaakkola et al, 2011; Song et al, 2009), a case-report regarding a worker who inhaled an estimated gram of nickel nanoparticles over an approximate 90-minute period, and who died from adult respiratory distress syndrome (Phillips et al, 2010), the development of unusual pulmonary disease in workers exposed to silica nanoparticles (Song et al, 2011), and the development of toxic epidermal necrolysis-like dermatitis in a chemist exposed to high levels of intermediate or final products of dendrimers while performing dendrimer synthesis (Toyama et al, 2009). Finally, a recent occupational survey showed an association with mortality due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and to ischemic heart disease in a cohort of workers exposed to metalworking fluids containing a substantial amount of incidental nanoparticles (Eisen et al, 2011).…”