Dosimetry of Inhaled Nanoparticles

Abstract

The ample and consistently found evidence for the association between adverse health effects and increased concentrations of ambient fine and ultrafine particles (e.g. Ibald-Mulli et al. 2002; Laden et al. 2000, 2006; Pope 2004; Schulz et al. 2005), as well as the exponentially growing production of engineered nanoparticles (NP) urgently require risk assessment of the potential for adverse health effects by such NP. The risk assessment paradigm comprises of exposure assessment, hazard identification and characterization and risk characterization; this chapter will focus on hazard identification and characterization. Thereby, data for inhaled NP are particularly pressing because this is the major route for unwanted exposure. On the other hand, medicinal use of NP as diagnostic tools or as therapeutics may offer advanced treatment (Rytting et al. 2008; Duncan 2006). Also in this case, the full evaluation of the entire risk assessment is mandatory. Moreover, since NP have altered properties compared to microparticles (MP) of the same material (Ferin et al. 1992), health risk identification and characterization is also necessary for already tested materials.