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Alijagic A, Kotlyar O, Larsson M, Salihovic S, Hedbrant A, Eriksson U, Karlsson P, Persson A, Scherbak N, Färnlund K, Engwall M, Särndahl E. Immunotoxic, genotoxic, and endocrine disrupting impacts of polyamide microplastic particles and chemicals. Environ Int 2024; 183:108412. [PMID: 38183898 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Due to their exceptional properties and cost effectiveness, polyamides or nylons have emerged as widely used materials, revolutionizing diverse industries, including industrial 3D printing or additive manufacturing (AM). Powder-based AM technologies employ tonnes of polyamide microplastics to produce complex components every year. However, the lack of comprehensive toxicity assessment of particulate polyamides and polyamide-associated chemicals, especially in the light of the global microplastics crisis, calls for urgent action. This study investigated the physicochemical properties of polyamide-12 microplastics used in AM, and assessed a number of toxicity endpoints focusing on inflammation, immunometabolism, genotoxicity, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation, endocrine disruption, and cell morphology. Specifically, microplastics examination by means of field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed that work flow reuse of material created a fraction of smaller particles with an average size of 1-5 µm, a size range readily available for uptake by human cells. Moreover, chemical analysis by means of gas chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry detected several polyamide-associated chemicals including starting material, plasticizer, thermal stabilizer/antioxidant, and migrating slip additive. Even if polyamide particles and chemicals did not induce an acute inflammatory response, repeated and prolonged exposure of human primary macrophages disclosed a steady increase in the levels of proinflammatory chemokine Interleukin-8 (IL-8/CXCL-8). Moreover, targeted metabolomics disclosed that polyamide particles modulated the kynurenine pathway and some of its key metabolites. The p53-responsive luciferase reporter gene assay showed that particles per se were able to activate p53, being indicative of a genotoxic stress. Polyamide-associated chemicals triggered moderate activation of AhR and elicited anti-androgenic activity. Finally, a high-throughput and non-targeted morphological profiling by Cell Painting assay outlined major sites of bioactivity of polyamide-associated chemicals and indicated putative mechanisms of toxicity in the cells. These findings reveal that the increasing use of polyamide microplastics may pose a potential health risk for the exposed individuals, and it merits more attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andi Alijagic
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Center (MTM), Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden; Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden.
| | - Oleksandr Kotlyar
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Center (MTM), Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden; Centre for Applied Autonomous Sensor Systems (AASS), Mobile Robotics and Olfaction Lab (MRO), Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Maria Larsson
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Center (MTM), Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden
| | - Samira Salihovic
- Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden
| | - Alexander Hedbrant
- Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden
| | - Ulrika Eriksson
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Center (MTM), Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden
| | - Patrik Karlsson
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden
| | - Alexander Persson
- Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden
| | - Nikolai Scherbak
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Center (MTM), Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden
| | | | - Magnus Engwall
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Center (MTM), Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden
| | - Eva Särndahl
- Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden
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Alijagic A, Engwall M, Särndahl E, Karlsson H, Hedbrant A, Andersson L, Karlsson P, Dalemo M, Scherbak N, Färnlund K, Larsson M, Persson A. Particle Safety Assessment in Additive Manufacturing: From Exposure Risks to Advanced Toxicology Testing. Front Toxicol 2022; 4:836447. [PMID: 35548681 PMCID: PMC9081788 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.836447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Additive manufacturing (AM) or industrial three-dimensional (3D) printing drives a new spectrum of design and production possibilities; pushing the boundaries both in the application by production of sophisticated products as well as the development of next-generation materials. AM technologies apply a diversity of feedstocks, including plastic, metallic, and ceramic particle powders with distinct size, shape, and surface chemistry. In addition, powders are often reused, which may change the particles’ physicochemical properties and by that alter their toxic potential. The AM production technology commonly relies on a laser or electron beam to selectively melt or sinter particle powders. Large energy input on feedstock powders generates several byproducts, including varying amounts of virgin microparticles, nanoparticles, spatter, and volatile chemicals that are emitted in the working environment; throughout the production and processing phases. The micro and nanoscale size may enable particles to interact with and to cross biological barriers, which could, in turn, give rise to unexpected adverse outcomes, including inflammation, oxidative stress, activation of signaling pathways, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity. Another important aspect of AM-associated risks is emission/leakage of mono- and oligomers due to polymer breakdown and high temperature transformation of chemicals from polymeric particles, both during production, use, and in vivo, including in target cells. These chemicals are potential inducers of direct toxicity, genotoxicity, and endocrine disruption. Nevertheless, understanding whether AM particle powders and their byproducts may exert adverse effects in humans is largely lacking and urges comprehensive safety assessment across the entire AM lifecycle—spanning from virgin and reused to airborne particles. Therefore, this review will detail: 1) brief overview of the AM feedstock powders, impact of reuse on particle physicochemical properties, main exposure pathways and protective measures in AM industry, 2) role of particle biological identity and key toxicological endpoints in the particle safety assessment, and 3) next-generation toxicology approaches in nanosafety for safety assessment in AM. Altogether, the proposed testing approach will enable a deeper understanding of existing and emerging particle and chemical safety challenges and provide a strategy for the development of cutting-edge methodologies for hazard identification and risk assessment in the AM industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andi Alijagic
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Center (MTM), Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Andi Alijagic,
| | - Magnus Engwall
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Center (MTM), Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Eva Särndahl
- Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Helen Karlsson
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine Center in Linköping, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Alexander Hedbrant
- Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Lena Andersson
- Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Patrik Karlsson
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | | | - Nikolai Scherbak
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Center (MTM), Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | | | - Maria Larsson
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Center (MTM), Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Alexander Persson
- Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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