Nanoparticles from photocopiers induce oxidative stress and upper respiratory tract inflammation in healthy volunteers.
Photocopiers emit large quantities of nanoparticles (NPs); however, their toxicological properties have not been studied. Here we investigate for the first time early human responses following a day's exposure to NPs from photocopiers. Nine healthy subjects spent 6 h at a busy photocopy centre on 2-3 randomly selected days. Matched nasal lavage and urine samples were collected before and at different time points post-exposure. Nasal lavage samples were analysed for 14 cytokines, inflammatory cells and total protein. Urine samples were analysed for 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG). Exposure assessment was conducted using a suite of instruments. The mean total particle number on exposure days was >5 times higher than background, with size distributions in nanoscale range (peak 30-40 nm). Following exposure, 8-OH-dG and several pro-inflammatory cytokines were elevated 2-10 folds compared with pre-exposure levels and remained elevated for up to 36 h. We conclude that NPs from photocopiers induce upper airway inflammation and oxidative stress.
Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts-Lowell , Lowell, MA 01854, USA. m2khatri@gmail.com
Madhu
M
Khatri
Dhimiter
D
Bello
Peter
P
Gaines
John
J
Martin
Anoop K
AK
Pal
Rebecca
R
Gore
Susan
S
Woskie
D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D003849:Deoxyguanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000506:poisoning*; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000652:urine; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D003849:Deoxyguanosine