Engineered Nanomaterials and Occupational Allergy

Abstract

The expanding demand for highly performing devices and products has prompted the development of innovative nanosized materials. This fact, along with the uncertain efficacy of protective equipment available for the nanosized particles, poses concern about the risk of becoming sensitised in the occupational setting. Actually, such a phenomenon can also affect the general population given the unavoidable environmental contamination. At the same time, studies on the physiopathology of the allergy demonstrated that the lack of prevention and treatment can result in invalidating diseases that, in case of professional aetiology, might imply removal from job and compensation. The potential role of nanomaterials in the development and exacerbation of occupational allergy is being disclosed by recent experimental investigations in cellular and animal models. Moreover, first emerging data from professional human exposure are adding new information to the complex puzzled picture of nanotoxicology.Most importantly, a deeper knowledge on the role of nanomaterials in the aetiology of the allergic diseases will allow the implementation of risk assessment and preventive measures for nanosafety at the workplace. Original articles retrieved from PubMed and Google searches using the keywords, occupational, exposure, workers, nanoparticles, nanomaterials, allergy as well as congress proceedings, institutional reports and unpublished data from research laboratories involved in this field have been considered as a source of updated information to write this chapter.