Carbon nanotube and nanofiber exposure and sputum and blood biomarkers of early effect among U.S. workers. (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Beard, John D.; Erdely, Aaron; Dahm, Matthew M.; de Perio, Marie A.; Birch, M. Eileen; Evans, Douglas E.; Fernback, Joseph E.; Eye, Tracy; Kodali, Vamsi; Mercer, Robert R.; Bertke, Stephen J.; Schubauer-Berigan, Mary K.
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 116(2018)
• Page Start: 214
• Page End: 228
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: 8-OHdG 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine -- AIC Akaike Information Criterion -- α-2-M alpha-2-macroglobulin -- Apo-AI apolipoprotein A-I -- Apo-AII apolipoprotein A-II -- CRP C-reactive protein -- CNF carbon nanofibers -- CNT carbon nanotubes -- CNT/F carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers -- CHM cardiovascular health metric -- C3 complement C3 -- CPC condensation particle counter -- CI confidence interval -- ELPI electrical low-pressure impactor -- EC elemental carbon -- ECN engineered carbonaceous nanomaterials -- GPx glutathione peroxidase -- GM-CSF granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor -- ICAM-1 intercellular adhesion molecule 1 -- IL-1 β interleukin-1 beta -- IL-2 interleukin-2 -- IL-4 interleukin-4 -- IL-5 interleukin-5 -- IL-6 interleukin-6 -- IL-6R-β interleukin-6 receptor subunit beta -- IL-8 interleukin-8 -- IL-10 interleukin-10 -- IL-12p70 interleukin-12 subunit p70 -- IL-18 interleukin-18 -- IARC International Agency for Research on Cancer -- IQR interquartile range -- LDD least detectable dose -- MDC C-C motif chemokine 22/macrophage derived chemokine -- MMP-1 interstitial collagenase/matrix metalloproteinase-1 -- MMP-2 72 kDa type IV collagenase/matrix metalloproteinase-2 -- MMP-7 matrilysin/matrix metalloproteinase-7 -- MMP-9 matrix metalloproteinase-9 -- MUC-1/KL-6 mucin-1/Krebs von den Lungen-6 -- MWCNT multi-walled carbon nanotubes -- MPO myeloperoxidase -- NCI National Cancer Institute -- NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health -- NMAM NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods -- Ln natural logarithm of linear -- NSAID non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -- OEL occupational exposure limits -- PM2.5 particulate matter mass with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm -- PBZ personal breathing zone -- DustTrak photometer/optical particle counter -- PAI-1 Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 -- EDN1 endothelin-1 -- REL recommended exposure limit -- SPP-1 osteopontin/Secreted phosphoprotein 1 -- SWCNT single-walled carbon nanotubes -- SOD superoxide dismutase -- TIMP-1 metalloproteinase inhibitor 1/Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 -- t-PA tissue-type plasminogen activator -- TEM transmission electron microscopy -- TNF-α tumor necrosis factor alpha -- U.S. United States -- U.S. EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency -- VCAM-1 vascular cell adhesion protein 1 -- vWF von Willebrand factor; Biomarker -- Blood -- Carbon nanotube -- Carbon nanofiber -- Occupational -- Sputum; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.04.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Carbon nanotubes and nanofibers (CNT/F) are increasingly used for diverse applications. Although animal studies suggest CNT/F exposure may cause deleterious health effects, human epidemiological studies have typically been small, confined to single workplaces, and limited in exposure assessment. Objectives: We conducted an industrywide cross-sectional epidemiological study of 108 workers from 12 U.S. sites to evaluate associations between occupational CNT/F exposure and sputum and blood biomarkers of early effect. Methods: We assessed CNT/F exposure via personal breathing zone, filter-based air sampling to measure background-corrected elemental carbon (EC) (a CNT/F marker) mass and microscopy-based CNT/F structure count concentrations. We measured 36 sputum and 37 blood biomarkers. We used factor analyses with varimax rotation to derive factors among sputum and blood biomarkers separately. We used linear, Tobit, and unconditional logistic regression models to adjust for potential confounders and evaluate associations between CNT/F exposure and individual biomarkers and derived factors. Results: We derived three sputum and nine blood biomarker factors that explained 78% and 67%, respectively, of the variation. After adjusting for potential confounders, inhalable EC and total inhalable CNT/F structures were associated with the most sputum and blood biomarkers, respectively. Biomarkers associated with at least three CNT/F metrics were 72 kDa type IV collagenase/matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), interleukin-18, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), myeloperoxidase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in sputum and MMP-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, metalloproteinase inhibitor 1/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, GPx, SOD, endothelin-1, fibrinogen, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular cell adhesion protein 1, and von Willebrand factor in blood, although directions of associations were not always as expected. Conclusions: Inhalable rather than respirable CNT/F was more consistently associated with fibrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular biomarkers. Highlights: We evaluated carbon nanotube/nanofiber (CNT/F) exposure in relation to biomarkers. We assessed CNT/F exposure via personal breathing zone, filter-based air sampling. We measured fibrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, cardiovascular biomarkers. Inhalable rather than respirable CNT/F was more often associated with biomarkers. Sixteen biomarkers were associated with at least three CNT/F exposure metrics.