Release of Particulate Matter from Nano-Enabled Building Materials (NEBMs) Across Their Lifecycle: Potential Occupational Health and Safety Implications

Details

• Personal Author:
  Christiani, David C. ; Demokritou P ; Diwadkar AR ; Himes BE ; Lu Q ; Marrocco A ; Park H-R ; Singh D ; Wohlleben W
• Description:
  The present study investigates potential nanomaterial releases and occupational health risks across the lifecycle of nano-enabled building materials (NEBMs), namely, insulations and coatings. We utilized real-world degradation scenarios of a) sanding (mechanical), b) incineration (thermal), and c) accelerated UV-aging (environmental) followed by incineration. Extensive physicochemical characterization of the released lifecycle particulate matter (LCPM) was performed. The LCPM2.5 aerosol size fraction was used to assess the acute biological, cytotoxic and inflammatory effects on Calu-3 human lung epithelial cells. RNA-Seq analysis of exposed cells was performed to assess potential for systemic disease. Findings indicated that release dynamics and characteristics of LCPM depended on both the NEBM composition and the degradation scenario(s). Incineration emitted a much higher nanoparticle number concentration than sanding (nearly 4 orders of magnitude), which did not change with prior UV-aging. Released nanofillers during sanding were largely part of the matrix fragments, whereas those during incineration were likely physicochemically transformed. The LCPM from incineration showed higher bioactivity and inflammogenicity compared to sanding or sequential UV-aging and incineration, and more so when metallic nanofillers were present (such as Fe2O3). Overall, the study highlights the need for considering real-world exposure and toxicological data across the NEBM lifecycle to perform adequate risk assessments and to ensure workplace health and safety. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Construction Materials Cytotoxins Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Nanofiller Bioactivation Coatings Construction Materials Cytotoxic Effects Engineered Nanomaterials Exposure And Risk Assessment Exposure Assessment Incineration Insulations Nanomaterials Nanotechnology Risk Assessment Sanding UV-aging/Weathering

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• ISSN:
  0304-3894
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; New York ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  422
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20064054
• Citation:
  J Hazard Mater 2022 Jan; 422:126771
• Contact Point Address:
  Philip Demokritou, Department of Environmental Health, Center for Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Building 1, Room 1310, Boston, MA 02115, USA
• Email:
  pdemokri@hsph.harvard.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Iron oxide (Fe2O3) (CAS RN 1309-37-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Hazardous Materials
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c52dae0577b167bf0135edd90d1e56a770b9c51a70117872a8d016c466e7430be43a2df5e444254e28e31fef362b9f740e0a13634d7f344d036e1124eeb23e00
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/222580/cdc_222580_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 8.41 MB ]