title: Occupational exposure limit for silver nanoparticles: considerations on the derivation of a general health-based value.
abstract: With the increased production and widespread commercial use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), human and environmental exposures to silver nanoparticles are inevitably increasing. In particular, persons manufacturing and handling silver nanoparticles and silver nanoparticle containing products are at risk of exposure, potentially resulting in health hazards. While silver dusts, consisting of micro-sized particles and soluble compounds have established occupational exposure limits (OELs), silver nanoparticles exhibit different physicochemical properties from bulk materials. Therefore, we assessed silver nanoparticle exposure and related health hazards in order to determine whether an additional OEL may be needed. Dosimetric evaluations in our study identified the liver as the most sensitive target organ following inhalation exposure, and as such serves as the critical target organ for setting an occupational exposure standard for airborne silver nanoparticles. This study proposes an OEL of 0.19 μg/m(3) for silver nanoparticles derived from benchmark concentrations (BMCs) from subchronic rat inhalation toxicity assessments and the human equivalent concentration (HEC) with kinetic considerations and additional uncertainty factors. It is anticipated that this level will protect workers from potential health hazards, including lung, liver, and skin damage.
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA .|b Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA .
authors.forename: Brittany A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Weldon
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA .|b Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA .
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: M Faustman
authors.affiliation: c Department of Environmental Medicine , University of Rochester , Rochester , NY , USA .
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oberdörster
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA .|b Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA .
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Workman
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA .|b Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA .
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.affiliation: d Federal Institute for Risk Assessment , Berlin , Germany , and.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kneuer
authors.affiliation: e Institute of Nanoproduct Safety Research , Hoseo University , Asan , Korea.
authors.forename: Il Je
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D019985:Benchmarking; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D010316:Particle Size; D051381:Rats; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D004391:Dust; D012834:Silver
keywords: Clearance; dosimetry; occupational exposure; silver nanoparticles; subchronic inhalation