Association of Pulmonary and Cardiovascular Health Metrics with Carbon Nanotube and Nanofiber Exposure Among U.S. Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Details

• Personal Author:
  Beard JD ; Bertke SJ ; Birch, M. Eileen ; Dahm, Matthew M. ; De Perio, Marie A. ; Erdely A ; Evans DE ; Fernback, Joseph E. ; Mercer RR ; Schubauer-Berigan, Mary K.
• Description:
  Purpose: Commercial use of carbon nanotubes and nanofibers (CNT/Fs) in composites and electronics is increasing globally; however, little is known about health effects among exposed workers. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 108 workers at 12 U.S. facilities making or using CNT/Fs. We evaluated several pulmonary and cardiovascular measures: chest symptoms or respiratory allergies since starting work with CNT/Fs; lung function; resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). Methods: We conducted two-day, full-shift personal breathing zone sampling to measure background-corrected elemental carbon (EC), a marker of CNT/F exposure, and microscopy-based CNT/F structure count concentrations, and collected induced sputum to measure CNT/Fs in the respiratory tract. We measured (nonspecific) ultrafine and fine particulate mass and count concentrations using direct reading instruments (DRI). We concurrently conducted physical examinations, spirometry, and sphygmomanometry. We administered a questionnaire to obtain information on occupational history, co-exposures, and covariates. We evaluated associations between two-day mean exposure metrics and outcomes using logistic regression for binary outcomes (chest symptoms and respiratory allergies) and multiple linear regression for lung function metrics, BP, and HR, adjusting for confounding. Results: CNT/F exposures were generally low among the workers; 18% had CNT/Fs in sputum. None of the exposure metrics were associated with any of the spirometry-based metrics or chest symptoms, nor were CNT/F-specific metrics related to systolic or diastolic BP. DRI measurements were positively associated with systolic BP (p-values: 0.015-0.054). Resting HR was positively associated with EC, at both the respirable (p=0.015) and inhalable (p=0.0063) size fractions. Respiratory allergy development since starting work with CNT/Fs was positively associated with inhalable EC (p=0.016) and length of time worked with CNT/Fs (p=0.0081). Conclusions: This small study found evidence of positive associations between CNT/F exposure and respiratory allergies and heart rate. These findings require confirmation in other exposed populations. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Cardiovascular Diseases Cardiovascular System Epidemiology Lung Lung Diseases Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Carbon Nanotubes Cardiopulmonary System Disorders Cardiovascular Disease Heart Disease Heart Rate Humans Lung Disorders Lung Function Nanofibers Nanotechnology Pulmonary System Disorders Statistical Analysis Ultrafine Particles Ultrafine Particulates

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• ISSN:
  1047-2797
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies ; HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division ; DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  530
• Volume:
  27
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20050630
• Citation:
  Ann Epidemiol 2017 Aug; 27(8):530
• Contact Point Address:
  Mary K. Schubauer-Berigan, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1090 Tusculum Ave, MS-R15, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon nanotubes (CAS RN 308068-56-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Annals of Epidemiology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ee49a90b42b38fa38b8382e0f08c57ba26e51d14274b197d54fce9169f668c2ec6d390acece4445b80249dd71b8da7f0ade2fa522fb674f32da010e621e1806a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/210899/cdc_210899_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 132.14 KB ]