Nanotechnology industry is expected to grow very fastly
towards 2020. Mass production of nanomaterials will also mean a dramatic increase
of workers dealing with nanomaterials and becoming possibly exposed, large
numbers of exposed consumers.
Exposure to nanomaterials during the production or use is most likely to occur
via the lungs. There is good evidence that ultrafine ambient air particles
(e.g. diesel exhaust particles) pose considerable health risks if they gain
access to the airways. The symptoms can include rhinitis, bronchitis and
pulmonary inflammation.
Evidence exists that nano-sized particles may be more potent than larger particles
in evoking inflammatory and toxic responses in the lungs since these
nanoparticles will be more efficiently retained in the alveolar region.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are widely used in the field of
life-sciences, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and the textile
industries. Oberdörster et al. reported that ultrafine anatase TiO2 particles
(primary particle size of 20 nm), when instilled intra-tracheally into rats or
mice, induced a much greater pulmonary-inflammatory neutrophil response than
fine anatase TiO2 (primary particle size of 250 nm) when both types of
particles were instilled at the same mass dose.
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONP) are utilised in many commercial products
including cosmetics, paints, textiles, food additives, and personal hygiene
products and sunscreens. It has been previously reported that airway exposure
to ZnO nanoparticles could induce eosinophil infiltration and pulmonary
fibrosis in mouse models.
Carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, and mesoporous carbon structures constitute a new
class of carbon nanomaterials which have many applications. The needle-like
shape of certain type of CNTs has been compared to asbestos, raising concerns
that their widespread use may lead to pleural fibrosis and/or mesothelioma (cancer
of the lining of the lung), which are today diseases mostly associated with
exposure to asbestos.
Keywords: Nanomaterial, health, lung effects
Bölüm | Articles |
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Yazarlar | |
Yayımlanma Tarihi | 1 Kasım 2017 |
Yayımlandığı Sayı | Yıl 2017 Volume 2, Issue 1(4) |