A 21-Day Sub-Acute, Whole-Body Inhalation Exposure to Printer-Emitted Engineered Nanoparticles in Rats: Exploring Pulmonary and Systemic Effects

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bello D ; Bhattacharya K ; Castranova, Vincent ; Christophi CA ; Demokritou P ; Godleski J ; Orandle MS ; Pirela SV ; Qian Y ; Sisler JD ; Thomas T ; Wang G ; Wang Y ; Zhang Y
• Description:
  Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) used in toners to improve their performance are released in the air during laser printer use. ENMs play an important catalytic role in the breakdown of the toner polymer and subsequent rearrangement of organic compounds as well as in the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Cellular, animal, and human occupational exposure studies have shown that such printer-emitted particles (PEPs) induce inflammation, systemic oxidative stress, and genotoxicity, as well as, increase frequency of coughing, wheezing, and upper airway symptoms, raising concerns about their long-term impact on human health. No safety thresholds or regulatory guidelines currently exist for PEPs. In this study, Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed (by whole-body inhalation) to PEPs 5 h/day for up to 21 days using an exposure platform previously developed by the authors. The control group comprised of an equal number of rats exposed to high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtered air. The PEPs had a mean particle diameter of approximately 45 nm, and a total particle number concentration ranging from 4 to 21 × 105 #/cm3. The maximum total volatile organic compound (tVOCs) concentration was 363.2 +/- 162 ppb. The Multiple-Path Particle Dosimetry Model (MPPD) estimated the deposited fraction of PEPs to be around 7, 6 and 21% in the head, tracheobronchial (TB) and alveolar regions, respectively. Analysis of biochemical markers in the nasal and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (NLF, BALF) of PEPs-exposed animals showed only mild oxidative stress and inflammation. No damage was detected in the histological and chemiluminescence analysis of lung and heart tissues of PEPs-exposed animals. Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, such as Interleukin (IL) 1β, IL-12, IL-18, MIP-1alpha, MIP-2, GRO/KC, and Fractalkine were found to be up-/down-regulated in NLF and BALF of the PEPs-exposed animals. Also, serum biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation, such as 8-isoprostane, 4-hydroxynonemal, and Leukotriene B4 were elevated in PEPs-exposed animals. In conclusion, following exposure to PEPs, there was modest lung injury and inflammation in the respiratory tract. Specifically, changes in expression of certain cytokines and chemokines, along with serum levels of 8-isoprostane, were the most significant adverse effects reported following exposure to PEPs. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Laboratories Lung Occupational Health Printing Respiratory System Safety Toxicology Volatile Organic Compounds
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Laser Printer Emissions Biochemical Markers Cytokines Engineered Nanoparticles Exposure Assessment Exposure Biology Inflammation Inhalation Laboratory Animals Lung Tissue Nanomaterials Nanotoxicology Oxidative Stress Printers VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds

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• ISSN:
  2452-0748
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  15
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20057608
• Citation:
  NanoImpact 2019 Mar; 15:100176
• Contact Point Address:
  Philip Demokritou, Department of Environmental Health, Center for Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology, T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, 665 Huntington Avenue, Room 1310, Boston, MA 02115, United States
• Email:
  pdemokri@hsph.harvard.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  NanoImpact
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:44e4b4dafb3da74edb2913a7853dd127544ce94e68c6c0537e26d07499b70c4d6c07de2e3af1e67da5178940e543701e3cc6ed4e77650d0a5587b2b33918f453
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/214883/cdc_214883_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.86 MB ]