Environmental And Occupational Hazards Of Metal Nanocompounds Production And Application: Hygienic, Clinical And Toxicological Aspects

Abstract

Introduction: Nanometals are the most common nanoobjects, used nearly in all industrial branches. Considerable advances in the nanotechnological production have led to progressive use of nanomaterials in industry, though occupational safety of the nanoindustry staff is insufficiently studied. The aim: Estimation of labor safety during production of metal nanoparticles for the purpose of defining necessary and efficient preventive measures. Materials and methods: The personnel of the hygienic departments of the O.Bogomolets National medical university have conducted numerous physiological, hygienic, biochemical, morphological and toxicological studies. The scientists have studied and revealed hazardous workplace factors of various metal nanoparticle production technologies, particularly those of metal nanoparticles: nanosilver, titanium nitride, chromium disilicide, lead sulphide, etc. Results and conclusions: The authors have developed method of the occupational exposure metal nanoparticles exposure air control, assessed and analyzed health of the personnel engaged in production of the nanometals. The paper contains data of the blood cells functional activity assessment, with the detected possible molecular nanoparticles toxicity mechanisms due to the altered gene expression. The authors have studied effect of nanoaerosols onto the laboratory rats respiratory organs, evaluated their blood biochemical characteristics, liver lipid content of fatty acids as well as defined morpho-functional hepatic transformations of the laboratory animals which underwent lead sulfide nanoparticles treatment.