Browsing by Author "Viana, Mar"
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- In vitro toxicity of ceramic nanoparticles in 3D human airway epithelial culturesPublication . Bessa, Maria João; Brandão, Fátima; Salmatonidis, Apostolos; Vulpoi, Adriana; Viana, Mar; Cassee, Flemming; Fraga, Sónia; Teixeira, João PauloThis study aimed to investigate the in vitro toxicity of engineered (ENP) and airborne ceramic NP in a 3D human bronchial epithelial model (MucilAir™) under air-liquid interface conditions.
- In Vitro Toxicity of Industrially Relevant Engineered Nanoparticles in Human Alveolar Epithelial Cells: Air-Liquid Interface versus Submerged CulturesPublication . Bessa, Maria João; Brandão, Fátima; Fokkens, Paul H.B.; Leseman, Daan L.A.C.; Boere, A. John F.; Cassee, Flemming R.; Salmatonidis, Apostolos; Viana, Mar; Vulpoi, Adriana; Simon, Simion; Monfort, Eliseo; Teixeira, João Paulo; Fraga, SóniaDiverse industries have already incorporated within their production processes engineered nanoparticles (ENP), increasing the potential risk of worker inhalation exposure. In vitro models have been widely used to investigate ENP toxicity. Air-liquid interface (ALI) cell cultures have been emerging as a valuable alternative to submerged cultures as they are more representative of the inhalation exposure to airborne nano-sized particles. We compared the in vitro toxicity of four ENP used as raw materials in the advanced ceramics sector in human alveolar epithelial-like cells cultured under submerged or ALI conditions. Submerged cultures were exposed to ENP liquid suspensions or to aerosolised ENP at ALI. Toxicity was assessed by determining LDH release, WST-1 metabolisation and DNA damage. Overall, cells were more sensitive to ENP cytotoxic effects when cultured and exposed under ALI. No significant cytotoxicity was observed after 24 h exposure to ENP liquid suspensions, although aerosolised ENP clearly affected cell viability and LDH release. In general, all ENP increased primary DNA damage regardless of the exposure mode, where an increase in DNA strand-breaks was only detected under submerged conditions. Our data show that at relevant occupational concentrations, the selected ENP exert mild toxicity to alveolar epithelial cells and exposure at ALI might be the most suitable choice when assessing ENP toxicity in respiratory models under realistic exposure conditions.
- Moving towards an advanced method to assess the toxicity of ceramic nanoparticles in human alveolar epithelial cellsPublication . Bessa, Maria João; Brandão, Fátima; Fokkens, Paul; Boere, John; Leseman, Daan; Salmatonidis, Apostolos; Viana, Mar; Cassee, Flemming; Teixeira, João Paulo; Fraga, SóniaThe aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro toxicity of three ceramic nanoparticles in A549 cell line, a primary target during inhalation exposure.
- Nanoparticle exposure and hazard in the ceramic industry: an overview of potential sources, toxicity and health effectsPublication . Bessa, Maria João; Brandão, Fátima; Viana, Mar; Gomes, João F.; Monfort, Eliseo; Cassee, Flemming R.; Fraga, Sónia; Teixeira, João PauloThe ceramic industry is an industrial sector of great impact in the global economy that has been benefiting from advances in materials and processing technologies. Ceramic manufacturing has a strong potential for airborne particle formation and emission, namely of ultrafine particles (UFP) and nanoparticles (NP), meaning that workers of those industries are at risk of potential exposure to these particles. At present, little is known on the impact of engineered nanoparticles (ENP) on the environment and human health and no established Occupational Exposure Limits (OEL) or specific regulations to airborne nanoparticles (ANP) exposure exist raising concerns about the possible consequences of such exposure. In this paper, we provide an overview of the current knowledge on occupational exposure to NP in the ceramic industry and their impact on human health. Possible sources and exposure scenarios, a summary of the existing methods for evaluation and monitoring of ANP in the workplace environment and proposed Nano Reference Values (NRV) for different classes of NP are presented. Case studies on occupational exposure to ANP generated at different stages of the ceramic manufacturing process are described. Finally, the toxicological potential of intentional and unintentional ANP that have been identified in the ceramic industry workplace environment is discussed based on the existing evidence from in vitro and in vivo inhalation toxicity studies.
- Pairwise toxicity evaluation of ceramic nanoparticles in submerged and air-liquid interface cultures of human alveolar epithelial A549 cellsPublication . Bessa, Maria João; Fraga, Sónia; Brandão, Fátima; Fokkens, Paul; Boere, J.; Leseman, D.; Salmatonidis, A.; Viana, Mar; Cassee, Flemming; Teixiera, João PauloObjectives: To investigate the in vitro toxicity of ceramic NPs (CeO2, ZrO2 and Sb2O3•SnO2 NPs) in human alveolar epithelial cells, a primary target during inhalation exposure, in both submerged and air-liquid cell cultures
- Potential human exposure and risks of incidental nanoparticles released during rotary dry cutting of ceramic tilesPublication . Moreno-Martín, Verónica; López, Maria; Roldan, Cristian; Bou, David; Fraga, Sonia; Teixeira, João Paulo; López-Lilao, Ana; Sanfélix, Vicenta; Moliner, Raúl; Monfort, Eliseo; Viana, MarRotary dry cutting and rectifying of ceramic tiles are sources of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nanoparticles (NPs). These activities are typically carried out inside industrial facilities during the manufacturing process, as well as outdoors and in residential indoor spaces during the installation phase, where mitigation measures are seldom implemented. This work aimed to understand the particle formation and release mechanisms, as well as particle properties (physical, chemical, and toxicological) and potential impacts on human health and the environment, for particles generated during ceramic tile rotary dry cutting operations. Aerosols were characterised in terms of particle number and mass concentrations, chemical composition, morphology and in vitro cytotoxicity. Two types of commercially available and representative tiles were tested in controlled chamber experiments: porous and non-porous ceramic body tiles (referred to in this work as A and B types, respectively). Results evidenced the release of fine particles and NPs during dry cutting of both materials, in comparable concentrations (20.000–45.000/cm3, 1-min average). However, the particle size distribution was significantly finer from A tiles (70% of the particle number concentration was nanosized (<100 nm)) in comparison to B tiles (<20%). While airborne particle chemical profiles were similar for both types of materials in the coarser size fractions (>0.6 μm), in the smaller size fractions (<0.6 μm) larger differences were observed. The chemical composition of airborne aerosols was consistent with that of the deposited dust. In vitro cytotoxicity responses evidenced statistically significant differences between exposure to aerosols from both types of tiles: cell viability was lower after exposure to aerosols from A tiles (50% at the original concentration) compared to those from B tiles, which exhibited high cell viability regardless of the aerosol concentration. Overall, results evidenced NP formation and release during rotary dry cutting of ceramic tiles, varying physical-chemical and cytotoxic profiles as a function of the material being processed, and highlight this activity as a potential health hazard in scenarios where prevention and mitigation measures are not implemented.
- Toxicity assessment of engineered and airborne process-generated nanoparticles in human alveolar epithelial A549 cellsPublication . Bessa, Maria João; Fraga, Sónia; Brandão, Fátima; Salmatonidis, A.; Viana, Mar; Cassee, Flemming; Teixeira, João PauloNanotechnology offers many possibilities in the ceramic sector by providing innovation of the industrial processes and products. However, nanoparticles (NPs) used in the manufacture of ceramic goods or released to the workplace air during production may pose a serious hazard for human health. This study aimed to investigate in vitro toxicity of both engineered (ENPs) (ZrO2, CeO2, SnO2 and Sb2O3•SnO2) and process-generated nanoparticles (PGNPs) [released during High Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) spraying] in human alveolar epithelial cells, a primary target following inhalation exposure.
- Toxicity assessment of industrial engineered and airborne process-generated nanoparticles in a 3D human airway epithelial in vitro modelPublication . Bessa, Maria João; Brandão, Fátima; Fokkens, Paul; Cassee, Flemming R.; Salmatonidis, Apostolos; Viana, Mar; Vulpoi, Adriana; Simon, Simion; Monfort, Eliseo; Teixeira, João Paulo; Fraga, SóniaThe advanced ceramic technology has been pointed out as a potentially relevant case of occupational exposure to nanoparticles (NP). Not only when nanoscale powders are being used for production, but also in the high-temperature processing of ceramic materials there is also a high potential for NP release into the workplace environment. In vitro toxicity of engineered NP (ENP) [antimony tin oxide (Sb2O3•SnO2; ATO); zirconium oxide (ZrO2)], as well as process-generated NP (PGNP), and fine particles (PGFP), was assessed in MucilAir™ cultures at air-liquid interface (ALI). Cultures were exposed during three consecutive days to varying doses of the aerosolized NP. General cytotoxicity [lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, WST-1 metabolization], (oxidative) DNA damage, and the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-8 and MCP-1) were assessed. Data revealed that ENP (5.56 µg ATO/cm2 and 10.98 µg ZrO2/cm2) only caused mild cytotoxicity at early timepoints (24 h), whereas cells seemed to recover quickly since no significant changes in cytotoxicity were observed at late timepoints (72 h). No meaningful effects of the ENP were observed regarding DNA damage and cytokine levels. PGFP affected cell viability at dose levels as low as ∼9 µg/cm2, which was not seen for PGNP. However, exposure to PGNP (∼4.5 µg/cm2) caused an increase in oxidative DNA damage. These results indicated that PGFP and PGNP exhibit higher toxicity potential than ENP in mass per area unit. However, the presence of a mucociliary apparatus, as it occurs in vivo as a defense mechanism, seems to considerably attenuate the observed toxic effects. Our findings highlight the potential hazard associated with exposure to incidental NP in industrial settings.
- Toxicity of ceramic nanoparticles in human alveolar epithelial A549 cells at air-liquid interfacePublication . Fraga, Sónia; Bessa, Maria João; Brandão, Fátima; Fokkens, Paul; Salmatonidis, A.; Viana, Mar; Cassee, Flemming; Teixeira, João PauloSeveral ceramic industries have already incorporated within their production processes the manufacture of different types of ceramic nanoparticles (NPs), as well as the application of those nanomaterials on conventional products, which increases the risk of human exposure to these nanoparticles, particularly in occupational settings. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro toxicity of ceramic NPs (ZrO2, CeO2 and Sb2O3•SnO2 NPs) in human alveolar epithelial cells, a primary target following inhalation exposure.
- Unveiling the Toxicity of Fine and Nano-Sized Airborne Particles Generated from Industrial Thermal Spraying Processes in Human Alveolar Epithelial CellsPublication . Bessa, Maria João; Brandão, Fátima; Fokkens, Paul H.B.; Leseman, Daan L.A.C.; Boere, A. John F.; Cassee, Flemming R.; Salmatonidis, Apostolos; Viana, Mar; Monfort, Eliseo; Fraga, Sónia; Teixeira, João PauloHigh-energy industrial processes have been associated with particle release into workplace air that can adversely affect workers’ health. The present study assessed the toxicity of incidental fine (PGFP) and nanoparticles (PGNP) emitted from atmospheric plasma (APS) and high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) thermal spraying. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, 2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2H-5-tetrazolio]-1,3-benzene disulfonate (WST-1) metabolisation, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, cell cycle changes, histone H2AX phosphorylation (γ-H2AX) and DNA damage were evaluated in human alveolar epithelial cells at 24 h after exposure. Overall, HVOF particles were the most cytotoxic to human alveolar cells, with cell viability half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 20.18 µg/cm2 and 1.79 µg/cm2 for PGFP and PGNP, respectively. Only the highest tested concentration of APS-PGFP caused a slight decrease in cell viability. Particle uptake, cell cycle arrest at S + G2/M and γ-H2AX augmentation were observed after exposure to all tested particles. However, higher levels of γ-H2AX were found in cells exposed to APS-derived particles (~16%), while cells exposed to HVOF particles exhibited increased levels of oxidative damage (~17% tail intensity) and ROS (~184%). Accordingly, APS and HVOF particles seem to exert their genotoxic effects by different mechanisms, highlighting that the health risks of these process-generated particles at industrial settings should not be underestimated.