Carbon Nanotube and Nanofiber Exposure and Sputum and Blood Biomarkers of Early Effect Among U.S. Workers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Beard JD ; Bertke SJ ; Birch, M. Eileen ; Dahm, Matthew M. ; De Perio, Marie A. ; Erdely A ; Evans DE ; Eye T ; Fernback, Joseph E. ; Kodali V ; Mercer RR ; Schubauer-Berigan, Mary K.
• Description:
  Background: Carbon nanotubes and nanofibers (CNT/F) are increasingly used for diverse applications. Although animal studies suggest CNT/F exposure may cause deleterious health effects, human epidemiological studies have typically been small, confined to single workplaces, and limited in exposure assessment. Objectives: We conducted an industrywide cross-sectional epidemiological study of 108 workers from 12 U.S. sites to evaluate associations between occupational CNT/F exposure and sputum and blood biomarkers of early effect. Methods: We assessed CNT/F exposure via personal breathing zone, filter-based air sampling to measure background-corrected elemental carbon (EC) (a CNT/F marker) mass and microscopy-based CNT/F structure count concentrations. We measured 36 sputum and 37 blood biomarkers. We used factor analyses with varimax rotation to derive factors among sputum and blood biomarkers separately. We used linear, Tobit, and unconditional logistic regression models to adjust for potential confounders and evaluate associations between CNT/F exposure and individual biomarkers and derived factors. Results: We derived three sputum and nine blood biomarker factors that explained 78% and 67%, respectively, of the variation. After adjusting for potential confounders, inhalable EC and total inhalable CNT/F structures were associated with the most sputum and blood biomarkers, respectively. Biomarkers associated with at least three CNT/F metrics were 72 kDa type IV collagenase/matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), interleukin-18, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), myeloperoxidase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in sputum and MMP-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, metalloproteinase inhibitor 1/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, GPx, SOD, endothelin-1, fibrinogen, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular cell adhesion protein 1, and von Willebrand factor in blood, although directions of associations were not always as expected. Conclusions: Inhalable rather than respirable CNT/F was more consistently associated with fibrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular biomarkers. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomarkers Blood Epidemiology Immune System Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Biomarker Breathing Zone Carbon Nanofiber Carbon Nanofibers Carbon Nanotube Carbon Nanotubes CNF Cross Sectional Studies Immune Reaction Inhalation Nanotechnology Occupational Oxidative Stress Sputum

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• ISSN:
  0160-4120
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Utah ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies ; DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology ; HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  214-228
• Volume:
  116
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20051487
• Citation:
  Environ Int 2018 Jul; 116:214-228
• Contact Point Address:
  John D. Beard, Department of Public Health, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, 2046 Life Sciences Building, Provo, UT 84602, USA
• Email:
  john_beard@byu.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon nanotubes (CAS RN 308068-56-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental International
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:15bdf91fb05474ee1aa04c58c2328964d407f76926970c627415137acb6104b31e9c265dc41b85bd599d16a60cf17cbea60a38c84b81f9ce89465cbdaa2f7922
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211413/cdc_211413_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 317.10 KB ]