title: Reduced pulmonary function and increased pro-inflammatory cytokines in nanoscale carbon black-exposed workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although major concerns exist regarding the potential consequences of human exposures to nanoscale carbon black (CB) particles, limited human toxicological data is currently available. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if nanoscale CB particles could be responsible, at least partially, for the altered lung function and inflammation observed in CB workers exposed to nanoscale CB particles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller were used to characterize CB. Eighty-one CB-exposed male workers and 104 non-exposed male workers were recruited. The pulmonary function test was performed and pro-inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. To further assess the deposition and pulmonary damage induced by CB nanoparticles, male BALB/c mice were exposed to CB for 6 hours per day for 7 or 14 days. The deposition of CB and the pathological changes of the lung tissue in mice were evaluated by paraffin sections and TEM. The cytokines levels in serum and lung tissue of mice were evaluated by ELISA and immunohistochemical staining (IHC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  SEM and TEM images showed that the CB particles were 30 to 50 nm in size. In the CB workplace, the concentration of CB was 14.90 mg/m³. Among these CB particles, 50.77% were less than 0.523 micrometer, and 99.55% were less than 2.5 micrometer in aerodynamic diameter. The reduction of lung function parameters including FEV1%, FEV/FVC, MMF%, and PEF% in CB workers was observed, and the IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, MIP-1beta, and TNF- alpha had 2.86-, 6.85-, 1.49-, 3.35-, and 4.87-folds increase in serum of CB workers, respectively. In mice exposed to the aerosol CB, particles were deposited in the lung. The alveolar wall thickened and a large amount of inflammatory cells were observed in lung tissues after CB exposure. IL-6 and IL-8 levels were increased in both serum and lung homogenate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data strongly suggests that nanoscale CB particles could be responsible for the lung function reduction and pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion in CB workers. These results, therefore, provide the first evidence of a link between human exposure to CB and long-term pulmonary effects.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Nanwei Road, Beijing, 100050, China. zhangr-wh@126.com.|Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China. zhangr-wh@126.com.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Nanwei Road, Beijing, 100050, China. yf_dai@sina.com.
authors.forename: Yufei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Nanwei Road, Beijing, 100050, China. zhangxiaotiti@126.com.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Nanwei Road, Beijing, 100050, China. niuyong1230@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Nanwei Road, Beijing, 100050, China. taotao198307@163.com.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Nanwei Road, Beijing, 100050, China. li_yuanyuan2010@126.com.
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Nanwei Road, Beijing, 100050, China. huaweiduan@126.com.
authors.forename: Huawei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Nanwei Road, Beijing, 100050, China. binping78@163.com.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bin
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Nanwei Road, Beijing, 100050, China. yemeng1@chinacdc.cn.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Nanwei Road, Beijing, 100050, China. snailjjj@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiaowei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Nanwei Road, Beijing, 100050, China. shenmeili01@126.com.
authors.forename: Meili
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Henan Provincial Institute for Occupational Health, Zhengzhou, China. China.chinastress@sina.com.
authors.forename: Shanfa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Jiao Zuo Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jiaozuo, China. yangxiaofa6919@sina.com.
authors.forename: Xiaofa
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Toxicology, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA. gaoweimin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Weimin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Nanwei Road, Beijing, 100050, China. zhengyx@chinacdc.cn.
authors.forename: Yuxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D001273:Atmosphere Exposure Chambers; D002617:Chemical Industry; D002681:China; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010316:Particle Size; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D053279:Polyynes / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D019064:Product Packaging; D011897:Random Allocation; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053260:Soot / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D059551:Toxicity Tests, Subacute; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D016207:Cytokines; D053260:Soot; D053279:Polyynes