Nanotoxicology: The Need for a Human Touch?

Abstract

With the ever‐expanding number of manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) under development there is a vital need for nanotoxicology studies that test the potential for MNMs to cause harm to health. An extensive body of work in cell cultures and animal models is vital to understanding the physicochemical characteristics of MNMs and the biological mechanisms that underlie any detrimental actions to cells and organs. In human subjects, exposure monitoring is combined with measurement of selected health parameters in small panel studies, especially in occupational settings. However, the availability of further in vivo human data would greatly assist the risk assessment of MNMs. Here, the potential for controlled inhalation exposures of MNMs in human subjects is discussed. Controlled exposures to carbon, gold, aluminum, and zinc nanoparticles in humans have already set a precedence to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. These studies have provided considerable insight into the potential (or not) of nanoparticles to induce inflammation, alter lung function, affect the vasculature, reach the systemic circulation, and accumulate in other organs. The need for further controlled exposures of MNMs in human volunteers ‐ to establish no‐effect limits, biological mechanisms, and provide vital data for the risk assessment of MNMs ‐ is advocated.

Three-Year Study of Markers of Oxidative Stress in Exhaled Breath Condensate in Workers Producing Nanocomposites, Extended by Plasma and Urine Analysis in Last Two Years

“…Several studies have searched for the most useful biomarkers of oxidative damage in humans [1][2][3][4][5], and it has been shown that no single marker may be satisfactory [6,7]. The need for nanotoxicology studies in humans is considered vital due to the potential damage to cells, organs, and organisms, and to a lack of human data, especially in occupational settings [8,9], where the exposure is the highest. Consumer product usage, such as sunscreen, may also be cause for concern, as absorption of nanoparticles through the skin was found [10,11].…”

Methods to Determine Chain-Breaking Antioxidant Activity of Nanomaterials beyond DPPH•. A Review

“…Of course, for a practical use on nanoantioxidants, this list must be integrated with toxicological and environmental considerations [119], that go beyond the aims of this review [120]. Nevertheless, we believe that the use of these guidelines will inspire the research of novel nanomaterials able to cope with the autoxidation of organic materials in fields spanning from foods to plastic to biological systems.…”

Emerging Technologies for In Vitro Inhalation Toxicology

“…Inhalation is a prime exposure route for humans and the respiratory epithelium is the first tissue that inhaled substances come in contact with. [21] To date, no in vitro models have been accepted by regulatory agencies as a complete replacement for inhalation toxicity testing in animals. In animal models, acute inhalation toxic-ity testing for regulatory purposes in rats or mice is done according to OECD TG403, TG436, and TG433 test guidelines.…”