Assessment of nanoparticle release and associated health effect of polymer-silicon composites.

Zhu, H.; Irfan, A.; Sachse, S.; Njuguna, J.

Abstract

Little information is currently available on possible release of nanomaterials or/and nanoparticles (NP) from conventional and novel products and associated health effect. This study aimed to assess the possible release of NP during the application stage of conventional and nanoproducts. NP release was monitored during physical processing of polymer-silicon composites, and the toxicity of both the released NP and the raw silica nanomaterials that were used as fillers in the nanocomposites was assessed in vitro using human lung epithelial A549 cells. This study suggests that 1) NP can be released from the conventional and novel polymer-silicon composites under certain application scenario; 2) the level of NP release from polymer composites could be altered by different reinforcement materials; e.g. nanostructured MMT could reduce the release while SiO2 NP could increase the release; 3) working with polymer composites under certain conditions could risk inhalation of high level of polymer NP; 4) raw nanomaterials appeared to be toxic in the chosen in vitro system. Further study of the effect of novel filler materials on NP release from final polymer products and the effect of released NP on environment and human health will inform design of safe materials and minimization of negative impact on the environment and human health.

Citation

ZHU, H., IRFAN, A., SACHSE, S. and NJUGUNA, J. 2012. Assessment of nanoparticle release and associated health effect of polymer-silicon composites. IOP conference series: materials science and engineering [online], 40(1): proceedings of 2012 international conference on Structural nano composites (NANOSTRUC 2012), 2-4 July 2012, Cranfield, UK, article 012015. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/40/1/012015

• Journal Article Type: Conference Paper
• Conference Name: 2012 international conference on Structural nano composites (NANOSTRUC 2012)
• Conference Location: Cranfield, UK
• Acceptance Date: Aug 9, 2012
• Online Publication Date: Sep 13, 2012
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2012
• Deposit Date: Dec 15, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 15, 2014
• Journal: IOP conference series: materials science and engineering
• Print ISSN: 1757-8981
• Electronic ISSN: 1757-899X
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 40
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 012015
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/40/1/012015
• Keywords: Polymersilicon composite; Nanoparticles; A549 cells
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/1097