Inhalation exposures of metal-based particles have been associated with severe adverse health outcomes from metal fume fever to cancer. Compared to the larger particles present in samples collected with typical industrial hygiene samplers (e.g., respirable), nanoparticles have substantially greater biological reactivity, deposition in the respiratory tract, and mobility in the body after depositing. Thus, freshly produced nanoparticles near fume sources may drive much of the observed adverse health effects, and respirable sampling may be insufficient to assess metal-based exposure risks. We have recently developed a novel personal sampler-the nanoparticle respiratory dose (NRD) sampler-and an associated analytical method that is easy to use, is inexpensive to analyze, and integrates into current personal exposure sampling strategies that can streamline the multi-step process for assessing titanium dioxide nanoparticle exposures. The work outlined in this application will expand the applicability of the NRD sampler and associated analytical methods to dramatically improve exposure assessment of a broad range of metal-based nanoparticle exposures in the workplace. With successful completion of the work proposed here, there will be many benefits, including an innovative, new sampler (Aim 1) coupled with associated analytical methods (Aim 2) applicable to assessing exposures to airborne metal-based particles. These new methodologies, validated through field studies (Aim 3), will be available for exposure assessments in routine industrial hygiene practice and in epidemiological study to better elucidate the adverse health effects that may be associated specifically with certain metal-based nanoparticle exposures. Consequently, our methods will have widespread use to assess exposures in the burgeoning field of nanotechnology or in more traditional occupational settings such as where welding occurs.

Public Health Relevance

This work will result in methodologies to measure personal exposures to airborne metal-based nanoparticles by particle class (e.g., engineered nanomaterial versus background aerosol). As such it is applicable to assessing worker exposures to engineered nanomaterial's in the burgeoning field of nanotechnology and to fumes in more traditional occupational settings such as where welding occurs.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01OH010238-03
Application #
8867045
Study Section
Safety and Occupational Health Study Section (SOH)
Program Officer
Dearwent, Steve
Project Start
2013-09-01
Project End
2017-08-31
Budget Start
2015-09-01
Budget End
2016-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Iowa
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
062761671
City
Iowa City
State
IA
Country
United States
Zip Code
52246
Stebounova, Larissa V; Gonzalez-Pech, Natalia I; Park, Jae Hong et al. (2018) Particle Concentrations in Occupational Settings Measured with a Nanoparticle Respiratory Deposition (NRD) Sampler. Ann Work Expo Health 62:699-710
Stebounova, Larissa V; Gonzalez-Pech, Natalia I; Peters, Thomas M et al. (2018) Physicochemical properties of air discharge-generated manganese oxide nanoparticles: Comparison to welding fumes. Environ Sci Nano 2018:696-707
Park, Jae Hong; Mudunkotuwa, Imali A; Crawford, Kathryn J et al. (2017) Rapid Analysis of the Size Distribution of Metal-Containing Aerosol. Aerosol Sci Technol 51:108-115
Vosburgh, Donna J H; Park, Jae Hong; Mines, Levi W D et al. (2017) Nonwoven textile for use in a nanoparticle respiratory deposition sampler. J Occup Environ Hyg 14:368-376
Mudunkotuwa, Imali A; Anthony, T Renée; Grassian, Vicki H et al. (2016) Accurate quantification of tio2 nanoparticles collected on air filters using a microwave-assisted acid digestion method. J Occup Environ Hyg 13:30-9
Mines, Levi W D; Park, Jae Hong; Mudunkotuwa, Imali A et al. (2016) Porous Polyurethane Foam for Use as a Particle Collection Substrate in a Nanoparticle Respiratory Deposition Sampler. Aerosol Sci Technol 50:497-506
Park, Jae Hong; Mudunkotuwa, Imali A; Mines, Levi W D et al. (2015) A Granular Bed for Use in a Nanoparticle Respiratory Deposition Sampler. Aerosol Sci Technol 49:179-187