Project Factsheet: PARTICLE_RISK
Risk Assessment of Exposure to Particles
Action Line: NEST-2003-1 Adventure activities
Some NEST have the potential to generate particulates which can enter the body via inhalation, ingestion or dermal absorption. As new materials are generated from sources as diverse as novel combustion systems, nanotechnology or pharmaceutical drug delivery in the life sciences there is potential for human exposure. Inhalation exposure to dusts leads to pulmonary diseases and particle toxicity increases with decreasing particle size. Information is needed regarding the possible risks from exposure to these particles including: the routes of exposure and subsequent disposition; their potential toxicity; appropriate toxicological testing procedures; and susceptible subpopulations. This study will acquire a bank of five particles potentially generated by NEST (NESTP) and will assess the health risk from exposure to these materials through air or the food supply with a work programme, integrating in vitro experiments, animal models of healthy/susceptible individuals and exposure/risk assessment.
| Project details | |||
| Project Reference: | 12912 | Contract type: | Specific Targeted Research Project |
| Start Date: | 2005-06-01 | End Date: | 2008-05-31 |
| Duration: | 36 months | Project Status: | Execution |
| Project cost: | 1.12 million euro | Project Funding: | 799576.00 euro |
| Participant Organization: | CONSORZIO VENEZIA RICERCHE | Country: | ITALY |
| Participant Organization: | NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH | Country: | DENMARK |
| Participant Organization: | GSF-FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM FUER UMWELT UND GESUNDHEIT GMBH | Country: | GERMANY |
| Participant Organization: | NAPIER UNIVERSITY | Country: | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Participant Organization: | UNIVERSITA CA' FOSCARI DI VENEZIA | Country: | ITALY |
| Participant Organization: | THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH | Country: | UNITED KINGDOM |
| PARTICLE_RISK. Risk assessment of NEST particles | Project results and summary presented in Brussels at the workshop organised by the EC in April 2008. Click here to view PowerPoint presentation |
Deliverable Number |
Title |
Month |
Comments |
1.1 |
Project Management Procedures |
3 |
Completed. Form C, Audit Certificates and the distribution of funds were delivered at Mid-Term and in Final Reporting Period |
1.2 |
Stakeholder Panel |
12 |
A stakeholder panel was convened at the Nanotoxicology Conference 2007 in Venice |
2.1 |
Physico-Chemical characterisation of nanoparticles of interest
|
12 |
This task was completed by month 12. The results were reported in the final report and presented at the NANOIMPACTNET conference in Lausanne 2009. |
2.2 |
Synthesis of non-commercially available nanoparticles of selected properties for required biological testing |
18 |
All the NESTP were available commercially and were subsequently obtained for the project. This task was reported in the interim reports |
2.3 |
Analytical protocols for the determination of organic and inorganic nanoparticles in biological tissues |
30 |
This task was completed by month 30. The results were reported in the final report and presented at the NANOIMPACTNET conference in Lausanne 2009. |
3.1 |
Determination of the effects of particle size and composition on NESTP distribution within body and cells |
39 |
This task was originally envisaged to be completed by month 36. An additional 3-month extension was asked. The results were presented in the final report and conferences |
3.2 |
Determination of NESTP on hepatocyte cell function
|
39 |
This task was originally envisaged to be completed by month 36. An additional 3-month extension was asked. The results were presented in the final report and conferences |
3.3 |
Determination of effect of NESTP on Kupffer cell function |
39 |
This task was originally envisaged to be completed by month 36. An additional 3-month extension was asked. The results were presented in the final report and conferences |
3.4 |
Potential for reduction of animal experimentation by linking in vitro and in vivo |
39 |
This task was originally envisaged to be completed by month 36. An additional 3-month extension was asked. The results were presented in the final report and conferences |
4.1 |
The deposition and distribution of NESTP materials in the mouse upon pulmonary exposure |
24 |
This task was completed and reported in the interim and final reports |
4.2 |
Dose-Effect relationship of pulmonary effects of pulmonary exposure to five NESTP |
26 |
This task was completed and reported in the interim and final reports |
4.3 |
Dose-Effect relationship of cardiovascular effects of pulmonary exposure to five NESTP in ApoE mice |
30 |
This task was completed and reported in the interim and final reports |
4.4 |
Mechanisms for pulmonary and cardiovascular effects |
30 |
This task was completed and reported in the interim and final reports |
4.5 |
in vitro systems for toxicity tests |
39 |
This task was completed and reported in the interim and final reports |
4.6 |
Rationales for reduction in animal experimentation by the linking of in vivo and in vitro effects |
39 |
This task was completed and reported in the interim and final reports |
4.7 |
Scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals |
39 |
See items in Dissemination Actions |
5.1 |
Methodological framework for the prediction of human exposure to NESTP in the environment |
18 |
This task was completed and reported in the interim and final reports |
5.2 |
Weight-of-evidence based risk assessment procedure to rank NESTP risk |
24 |
This task was completed and reported in the interim and final reports. The preliminary results were presented at NANOTOXICOLOGY conference, 2007. |
5.3 |
Screening risk assessment of NESTP considered in WP2 and 3 toxicological tests |
39 |
This task was completed and reported in the interim and final reports. The results were presented in NANOIMPACTNET meeting in Lausanne 2009 |