TY - JOUR

T1 - Lung damage in mice after inhalation of nanofilm spray products: the role of perfluorination and free hydroxyl groups

AU - Nørgaard, Asger W

AU - Larsen, Søren T.

AU - Hammer, Maria

AU - Poulsen, Steen Seier

AU - Jensen, Keld A

AU - Nielsen, Gunnar D

AU - Wolkoff, Peder

PY - 2010/7/1

Y1 - 2010/7/1

N2 - Exposures to two commercial nanofilm spray products (NFPs), a floor sealant (NFP 1) and a coating product for tiles (NFP 2), were investigated for airway irritation, airway inflammation, and lung damage in a mouse inhalation model. The particle exposure was characterized by particle number, particle size distribution, and gravimetric analysis. BALB/cJ mice were exposed for 60 min to the aerosolized products at 3.3-60 mg/m(3) (10(5)-10(6) fine particles/cm(3)) measured in the breathing zone of the mice. Lung inflammation and lung damage were assessed by study of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology, protein in BALF, and histology. Mass spectral analysis showed that NFP 1 and NFP 2 contained hydrolysates and condensates of a perfluorosilane and alkylsilane, respectively. NFP 1 induced a concentration-dependent decrease of the tidal volume lasting for at least 1 day. Exposure concentrations above 16.1 mg/m(3) (2.1 x 10(6) fine particles/cm(3)) gave rise to significant increases of protein level in BALF and reduced body weight, and histological examination showed atelectasis, emphysema, and hemorrhages. A narrow interval between the no-effect level (16.1 mg/m(3)) and the lethal concentrations (18.4 mg/m(3)) was observed. The alkylsilane-based product (NFP 2) had no effect at the concentrations studied. Experiments with different types of perfluorinated silanes and alkylsiloxanes showed that the toxic effects did not arise solely from the perfluorination. The number of free hydroxyl groups in the silanes/alkylsiloxanes was also critical for the toxicity.

AB - Exposures to two commercial nanofilm spray products (NFPs), a floor sealant (NFP 1) and a coating product for tiles (NFP 2), were investigated for airway irritation, airway inflammation, and lung damage in a mouse inhalation model. The particle exposure was characterized by particle number, particle size distribution, and gravimetric analysis. BALB/cJ mice were exposed for 60 min to the aerosolized products at 3.3-60 mg/m(3) (10(5)-10(6) fine particles/cm(3)) measured in the breathing zone of the mice. Lung inflammation and lung damage were assessed by study of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology, protein in BALF, and histology. Mass spectral analysis showed that NFP 1 and NFP 2 contained hydrolysates and condensates of a perfluorosilane and alkylsilane, respectively. NFP 1 induced a concentration-dependent decrease of the tidal volume lasting for at least 1 day. Exposure concentrations above 16.1 mg/m(3) (2.1 x 10(6) fine particles/cm(3)) gave rise to significant increases of protein level in BALF and reduced body weight, and histological examination showed atelectasis, emphysema, and hemorrhages. A narrow interval between the no-effect level (16.1 mg/m(3)) and the lethal concentrations (18.4 mg/m(3)) was observed. The alkylsilane-based product (NFP 2) had no effect at the concentrations studied. Experiments with different types of perfluorinated silanes and alkylsiloxanes showed that the toxic effects did not arise solely from the perfluorination. The number of free hydroxyl groups in the silanes/alkylsiloxanes was also critical for the toxicity.

KW - Animals

KW - Fluorocarbons

KW - Hydroxyl Radical

KW - Inhalation Exposure

KW - Lung

KW - Male

KW - Mice

KW - Mice, Inbred BALB C

KW - Nanoparticles

U2 - 10.1093/toxsci/kfq094

DO - 10.1093/toxsci/kfq094

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 20348230

VL - 116

SP - 216

EP - 224

JO - Toxicological Sciences

JF - Toxicological Sciences

SN - 1096-6080

IS - 1

ER -