Airborne Nanoparticles

Rick Flagan

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA 91125
USA

Presented at
Second China-US Workshop on Nanotstructured Materials for Global Energy and
Environmental Challenges
October 17-18, 2009

October 17, 2009

Developing understanding of health impacts of engineered
nanoparticles
Initial understanding was derived from inadvertent emissions
e.g., diesel truck nanoparticles
increased adverse pulmonary and cardiovascular health outcomes
among those living within ~100 m of major roadways in US, UK, and
Netherlans
Wheezing and asthma, reduced heart rate variability, blood pressure
increase with extended exposure, etc.
Developing understanding of health impacts of engineered
nanoparticles
Availability of engineered
nanoparticles is now enabling
fundamental mechanistic studies
of health effects
Different nanoparticles exhibit
different modes of action, e.g.,
in Nel’s study:
ZnO2 nanoparticles
translocate across cell
membranes
Dissolution in cytoplasmic
material leads to direct
cytotoxic effects
But less soluble TiO2 and
CeO2 did not.
Xia et al. Acs Nano (2008) vol. 2 (10) pp. 2121-2134
Developing understanding of health impacts of engineered
nanoparticles

Nel and coworkers have deveoed Boundaries between stages are

a four-tiered model of health not sharp, but provide a
effects of particulate exposure framework with which to study
(Xia et al. ACS Nano and understand health
2:2121-2134 (2008)) consequences
Differential mobility analysis
Common differential mobility analyzers
Winkmayr et al. (1992)
Vienna DMA

Chen et al. (1998)

nanoDMA (TSI)

Others:
de la Mora
Takefumi
MSP
Grimm

Knutson & Whitby (1975)

TSI Long Column DMA

Zhang et al. (1990) Caltech RDMA

Nanoparticle exposures in an automobile cabin in heavy
traffic
Airborne nanoparticle
concentrations vary rapidly
Transient sources
Rapid coagulation with larger
particles
Rapid, local measurements are
needed
Need personal monitors for
worker exposure
Nanoparticles can be efficiently
removed by filtration
“Pore size” is not relevant to
collection of nanoparticles
from gas
Diffusional deposition rather
Zhu et al., Env. Sci. Technol. (2007)
than sieving
NanoRDMA

Brunelli et al. (2009) Aerosol Sci. Tech. 43: 53-59

Based upon Caltech RDMA design

Design improvements to improve
concentricity
Short aspect ratio to enable
measurements to 1 nm
New Instrument Concepts: Opposed Migration Aerosol
Classifier
New Instrument Concepts: Opposed Migration Aerosol
Classifier
Moving detection to the single molecule level
Single molecule antibody assay
Label high-Q (108 ) microtoroidal
resonator
No label required on detected
molecule or particle

Armani et al. Science (2007) 317: 783-787 (2007)

Moving detection to the single molecule level
Conclusions

Nanoparticles do have adverse health impacts when inhaled

A framework for understanding health consequences is developing
Airborne nanoparticle measurements are needed wherever engineered
nanoparticles are produced or handled
Free nanoparticles are short-lived so local measurements are needed
Identification of engineered nanoparticles remains a challenge
Measurementment methods are available and improving
Nanotechnology is opening door to single molecule and attomolar
detection
Continued development is needed so that true exposure can be
monitored for those at greatest risk
Workers
General public?