Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Possible adverse health effects of nanoparticles are little understood. Pilot study was performed in workers exposed to TiO2 aerosol.
METHODS
Dynamics of aerosol number size distributions at the workplaces was monitored by SMPS and APS spectrometers in size range 15 nm-10 μm. Spatial distributions of total concentrations were determined using monitors of particle number (P-TRAK) and mass concentrations (DustTRAK DRX). Pre-shift and post-shift FeNO and markers in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) were measured in 20 workers, and 17 controls. Malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxy-trans-nonenale (HNE), 4-hydroxy-trans-hexenale (HHE), 8-isoProstaglandin F2α (8-isoprostane), 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 8-hydroxyguanosine (8-OHG), hydroxymethyl uracil (HMeU), o-tyrosine (o-Tyr), 3-chloro-tyrosine (3-Cl-Tyr), nitrotyrosine (NO-Tyr), C6-C13, and leukotrienes (LTs) were analyzed by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry.
RESULTS
Total aerosol concentrations in the production plant varied in space and time; number concentrations 1x104-2x105 particles/cm3, mass concentrations 0.1-30 mg/m3. In the workshops, 90% of particles were under 100 nm in diameter. All pre-shift markers, except LTD4 and FeNO, were increased in workers. Markers of lipid oxidation were elevated (p<0.01): MDA, HNE, HHE, 8-isoprostane and C6-C13. Markers of oxidation of nucleic acids and proteins were higher (p<0.001): 8-OHdG, 8-OHG, HMeU, 3-Cl-Tyr and NO-Tyr. Elevated was o-Tyr, LTB4, LTC4 and LTE4. No difference was noted for post-shift EBC and FeNO.
CONCLUSION
This first study of EBC in workers suggests deleterious effects of TiO2 exposure to aerosol particles with nano-sized fractions.
P28/1LF/6.
- © 2012 ERS