Current Knowledge of Toxicological Studies on Airborne Nanoparticles

Dear colleagues,

The influence of ultrafine particulate on human health has recently raised concerns, as airborne nanoparticles resulting both from nanotechnology processes and, also, from macroscopic industrial processes is increasing. In fact, nanotoxicological research is still in its infancy, and the issuing and implementation of standards for appropriate safety control systems may still take several years. Nonetheless, the advanced understanding of toxicological phenomena at the nanometer scale is largely dependent on technological innovations and scientific results stemming from enhanced R&D. The adverse health effects of inhaling fine aerosols have been recognized and various attempts have been made to minimize exposure, such as the issuing of specific regulations on emissions and objectives for air quality. While toxicological testing of nanoparticles entering through the skin or gastrointestinal tract is now starting to be tried, inhalation technology has been concerned with both naturally occurring and engineered nanometer sized materials. Some studies, however, had contradictory and controversial conclusions, and little or no standardization of experimental parameters. In particular, standard toxicology tests have been found to be unsuitable to explain toxicity of nanometer-sized particles, leading nanotoxicology laboratories to recommend the adoption of another type of metric that takes into account the materials’ active surface area and structure. Therefore, recent nanotoxicology studies are trying to reach reproducible results by determining the surface effects and other physical parameters of materials.

Prof. Dr. João Fernando Pereira Gomes
Prof. Dr. Paula Cristina da Silva Albuquerque
Dr. Byung-Tae Lee
Guest Editors

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• nanoparticles
• ultrafine particles
• air emissions
• airborne particles
• nanoscale
• toxicology of nanoparticles