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

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 a

SUBMITTER: Beard JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5970999 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature