R1 AM Nanotechnology Environmental and Health Impacts
Thursday, 17 November 2005: 8:00 AM - 11:40 AM in Ballroom 1

(GRA-1117-828928) Impacts of Manufactured Nanomaterials on Human Health and the Environment: A Focus on Nanoparticulate Aerosol.

Grassian, V¹, O'Shaughnessy, P¹, Thorne, P¹, Dodd, A¹, Knagge, K¹, Pettibone, J¹, ¹ University of Iowa

ABSTRACT- The goal of this research is to determine the potential effects of manufactured nanomaterial aerosol on human health. Manufactured nanomaterials are characterized using a wide variety of techniques and analysis methods including surface spectroscopy so that both bulk and surfaces properties can be understood on a molecular level. Because of a number of physical and chemical properties are size-dependent on nanometer length scales, it is important to fully characterize the nanoparticles used in these studies. These well-characterized particles are then used for inhalation exposure studies. There is additional characterization once the aerosol is generated to determine if the particles aggregate or retain the size distribution determined prior to aerosol generation. Toxicology assessments of the animals used in the exposure studies include murine acute pulmonary inflammation assay, murine sub-acute pulmonary toxicology evaluation and murine microbial challenge host resistance evaluation to screen for acute and sub-chronic pulmonary effects. Data obtained for particles as small as 5 nm (titanium dioxide) will be discussed and compared to larger particles.

Key words: nanomaterial characterization, aerosol, exposure studies, toxicity