Nanoparticle exposure has risks: studyDANGER: Workers exposed to nanoparticles can experience oxidative stress, which can cause cell injury and increase a person’s risk of cardiovascular or lung damageBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterA panel study by National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) researchers has found that long-term exposure to nanoparticles can cause oxidative stress, which can lead to cell damage and inflammation. The study found that long-term exposure to nanoparticles can cause oxidative stress, which is an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body, as the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase was significantly elevated in the workers who handled nanomaterials, Wu said. Oxidative stress can cause chronic inflammation, leading to a higher risk of cardiovascular or lung damage and cell injury, he said. However, cardiovascular dysfunction, lung damage, inflammation, oxidative damage, and neurobehavioral and genotoxic markers were not found to be directly associated with handling nanomaterials, he said, adding that direct adverse health effects from long-term exposure to nanoparticles were not found through the study. However, researchers found that many workers were only wearing activated carbon masks when handling nanomaterials, and the team has suggested that they wear N95 respirators to better protect against nanoparticles, Wu added.

Source: Taipei Times September 21, 2020 15:56 UTC