Tungsten dust in fusion tokamaks: relevant dust laser production, characterization and behaviour under tritium loading

Bernard, E.; Delaporte, Ph.; Jambon, F; Rousseau, Bernard; Grisolia, Christian; Chaudanson, D; Nitsche, S

doi:10.1088/0031-8949/t167/1/014071

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…A detailed physico-chemical characterization of the ITER-like plasma and laser W-NPs, in their powder form, was already presented [15,16,19] and is here summarized in Table 2.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even if we can identify similarities between the outcome of previous studies on W and our data, there are some important differences that we think are pivotal in understanding our results and the mechanisms by which W results toxic. First of all, our bench produced plasma and laser ITER-like W-NPs display peculiar physico-chemical properties [15,16,17]. More in detail, although they are metallic W-NPs, XAS and helium pycnometer analysis have shown that a significant fraction of tungsten oxide (WO x ) is present and it could participate in the toxicity of the particles.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two synthesis methods were used to produce ITER-like W-NPs with different physico-chemical properties: magnetron plasma sputtering and gas condensation (plasma W-NPs), and laser ablation (laser W-NPs). Detailed description of the production set-up and morphology, composition, and crystalline structure were already described [15,16,17]. Given the characteristics of the tokamak that will operate at ITER, particles of irregular shape and of smaller size than those produced by other already existing W-based tokamaks are expected.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The brief and intense heat source at the surface of an ITER grade W sample submitted to the laser impulses allows the formation of particles by two processes: ejection of melted material or accretion of particles in the plasma formed in the heated volume. We used a picosecond laser of wavelength 1064 nm, frequency 10 Hz, pulse energy density 5 J/cm 2 , and pulse duration 50 ps to produce laser W-NPs [15].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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In Vitro Analysis of the Effects of ITER-Like Tungsten Nanoparticles: Cytotoxicity and Epigenotoxicity in BEAS-2B Cells

et al. 2019

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Tungsten was chosen as a wall component to interact with the plasma generated by the International Thermonuclear Experimental fusion Reactor (ITER). Nevertheless, during plasma operation tritiated tungsten nanoparticles (W-NPs) will be formed and potentially released into the environment following a Loss-Of-Vacuum-Accident, causing occupational or accidental exposure. We therefore investigated, in the bronchial human-derived BEAS-2B cell line, the cytotoxic and epigenotoxic effects of two types of ITER-like W-NPs (plasma sputtering or laser ablation), in their pristine, hydrogenated, and tritiated forms. Long exposures (24 h) induced significant cytotoxicity, especially for the hydrogenated ones. Plasma W-NPs impaired cytostasis more severely than the laser ones and both types and forms of W-NPs induced significant micronuclei formation, as shown by cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. Single DNA strand breaks, potentially triggered by oxidative stress, occurred upon exposure to W-NPs and independently of their form, as observed by alkaline comet assay. After 24 h it was shown that more than 50% of W was dissolved via oxidative dissolution. Overall, our results indicate that W-NPs can affect the in vitro viability of BEAS-2B cells and induce epigenotoxic alterations. We could not observe significant differences between plasma and laser W-NPs so their toxicity might not be triggered by the synthesis method.

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“…A detailed physico-chemical characterization of the ITER-like plasma and laser W-NPs, in their powder form, was already presented [15,16,19] and is here summarized in Table 2.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

In Vitro Analysis of the Effects of ITER-Like Tungsten Nanoparticles: Cytotoxicity and Epigenotoxicity in BEAS-2B Cells

et al. 2019

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“…A massive ITER-grade W sample is placed perpendicularly to the laser beam, in a high vacuum chamber with turbomolecular pumping, filled with helium at a pressure of 5000 Pa; the dust production rate is rather low (3.5 mg.h -1 ) but sufficient for our needs. More details about the setup are presented in [19]. The dust produced during the ablation process is gathered by mechanical collection on all surfaces of the ablation chamber.…”

Section: Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design of model tokamak particles for future toxicity studies: Morphology and physical characterization

Bernard

Jambon

Georges

et al. 2019

Fusion Engineering and Design

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During ITER operation, it is expected that the large panel of plasma-wall interactions triggers the production of dust particles, potentially loaded with tritium present nearby. Tritium (T) inventory in the various materials, such as tungsten (W), is of prime importance for the safety assessment of a Tokamak machine, and it is even more crucial when considering dispersible matters like dusts: in case of a Loss Of Vacuum Accident (LOVA), dusts may form aerosols containing tritium and activation products that could escape the first confinement barrier and be released in the environment. The with tritium inventory in the described W dusts and their suspension in various liquid media for cell exposure for toxicity studies.

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Emerging activated tungsten dust: Source, environmental behaviors, and health effects

Wang,

Nie,

Zheng

et al. 2024

Environment International

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Tungsten dust in fusion tokamaks: relevant dust laser production, characterization and behaviour under tritium loading

Cited by 13 publications

References 8 publications

In Vitro Analysis of the Effects of ITER-Like Tungsten Nanoparticles: Cytotoxicity and Epigenotoxicity in BEAS-2B Cells

In Vitro Analysis of the Effects of ITER-Like Tungsten Nanoparticles: Cytotoxicity and Epigenotoxicity in BEAS-2B Cells

Design of model tokamak particles for future toxicity studies: Morphology and physical characterization

Emerging activated tungsten dust: Source, environmental behaviors, and health effects

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