Immunotoxicological impact of occupational and environmental nanoparticles exposure: The influence of physical, chemical, and combined characteristics of the particles

Abstract

While nanotechnology is growing exponentially, the knowledge of the impact of nanoparticles (NPs) on public health and the environment is limited so far. Current nanomaterial research is focused on the applications of nanotechnology, whereas there is little information on exposure assessment and risk characterization associated with NPs. Therefore, it is essential that the factors influencing NPs associated hazards be studied. This review seeks to survey and evaluate the current literature in order to better understand the impact of both airborne and engineered NPs exposure, the mechanisms at the cellular level, and the factors influencing their immunotoxicity. In fact, NPs do have immunotoxicological significance, as immune cells in the bloodstream and tissues do act to eliminate or interact with NPs. Proper characterization of the NPs as well as understanding the processes occurring on the NPs surface when in contact with biological systems is crucial to predict or exclude toxicological effects.