Inhalation toxicity, pulmonary clearance, and biotransformation of ferric oxide nanoparticles in rats.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles are widely used in industrial and biomedical applications, raising concerns regarding inhalation exposure, particularly in occupational settings. Although the inhalation toxicity of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) was reported, no studies have addressed the pulmonary clearance, biotransformation, or systemic distribution of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. In this study, male rats were exposed nose-only to aerosols of γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles at concentrations of 0.56, 1.63, and 4.92 mg/m³ for 6 h/day, 5 d/week, over 28 d, followed by recovery periods of 7 and 28 d. Particulate and ionic iron were separately collected via proteinase K digestion and quantitatively and

SUBMITTER: Kim S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12829270 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature