Jelle Vlaanderen1, Anjoeka Pronk2, Nathaniel Rothman3, Allan Hildesheim3, Debra Silverman3, H Dean Hosgood4, Suzanne Spaan2, Eelco Kuijpers2, Lode Godderis5,6, Peter Hoet5, Qing Lan3, Roel Vermeulen1. 1. a Division of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences , Utrecht University , Utrecht , The Netherlands. 2. b Risk Analysis for Products in Development (RAPID), TNO , Zeist , The Netherlands. 3. c Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics , National Cancer Institute , Bethesda , MD , USA. 4. d Department of Epidemiology and Population Health , Albert Einstein College of Medicine , Bronx , NY , USA. 5. e Centre for Environment and Health , Katholieke Universiteit Leuven , Leuven , Belgium. 6. f External Service for Prevention and Protection at Work , IDEWE , Heverlee , Belgium.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are manufactured nanomaterials to which workers and the general population will be increasingly exposed in coming years. Little is known about potential human health effects of exposure to MWCNTs, but effects on the lung and the immune system have been reported in animal and mechanistic studies. OBJECTIVES: We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the association between occupational exposure to MWCNTs and effects on lung health and the immune system. METHODS: We assessed 51 immune markers and three pneumoproteins in serum, complete blood cell counts (CBC), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), and lung function among 22 workers of a MWCNT producing facility and 39 age- and gender-matched, unexposed controls. Measurements were repeated four months later among 16 workers also included in the first phase of the study. Regression analyses were adjusted for potentially confounding parameters age, body mass index, smoking, and sex, and we explored potential confounding by other factors in sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: We observed significant upward trends for immune markers C-C motif ligand 20 (p = .005), basic fibroblast growth factor (p = .05), and soluble IL-1 receptor II (p = .0004) with increasing exposure to MWCNT. These effects were replicated in the second phase of the study and were robust to sensitivity analyses. We also observed differences in FENO and several CBC parameters between exposed and non-exposed, but no difference in lung function or the pneumoproteins. CONCLUSIONS: We observed indications of early effects of occupational exposure to MWCNTs on lung health and the immune system.
BACKGROUND: Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are manufactured nanomaterials to which workers and the general population will be increasingly exposed in coming years. Little is known about potential human health effects of exposure to MWCNTs, but effects on the lung and the immune system have been reported in animal and mechanistic studies. OBJECTIVES: We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the association between occupational exposure to MWCNTs and effects on lung health and the immune system. METHODS: We assessed 51 immune markers and three pneumoproteins in serum, complete blood cell counts (CBC), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), and lung function among 22 workers of a MWCNT producing facility and 39 age- and gender-matched, unexposed controls. Measurements were repeated four months later among 16 workers also included in the first phase of the study. Regression analyses were adjusted for potentially confounding parameters age, body mass index, smoking, and sex, and we explored potential confounding by other factors in sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: We observed significant upward trends for immune markers C-C motif ligand 20 (p = .005), basic fibroblast growth factor (p = .05), and soluble IL-1 receptor II (p = .0004) with increasing exposure to MWCNT. These effects were replicated in the second phase of the study and were robust to sensitivity analyses. We also observed differences in FENO and several CBC parameters between exposed and non-exposed, but no difference in lung function or the pneumoproteins. CONCLUSIONS: We observed indications of early effects of occupational exposure to MWCNTs on lung health and the immune system.
Authors: Irina Guseva Canu; Paul A Schulte; Michael Riediker; Liliya Fatkhutdinova; Enrico Bergamaschi Journal: J Epidemiol Community Health Date: 2017-12-04 Impact factor: 3.710
Authors: Mary K Schubauer-Berigan; Matthew M Dahm; Christine A Toennis; Deborah L Sammons; Tracy Eye; Vamsi Kodali; Patti C Zeidler-Erdely; Aaron Erdely Journal: Nanotoxicology Date: 2020-02-07 Impact factor: 5.913
Authors: John D Beard; Aaron Erdely; Matthew M Dahm; Marie A de Perio; M Eileen Birch; Douglas E Evans; Joseph E Fernback; Tracy Eye; Vamsi Kodali; Robert R Mercer; Stephen J Bertke; Mary K Schubauer-Berigan Journal: Environ Int Date: 2018-04-23 Impact factor: 9.621