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In this study, the effects of occupational exposure to nanoparticles (NPs) were studied by NMR metabolomics. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and blood plasma samples were obtained from a research nanoparticles-processing unit at a national research university. The samples were taken from three groups of subjects: samples from workers exposed to nanoparticles collected before and after shift, and from controls not exposed to NPs. Altogether, 60 1H NMR spectra of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) samples and 60 1H NMR spectra of blood plasma samples were analysed, 20 in each group. The metabolites identified together with binning data were subjected to multivariate statistical analysis, which provided clear discrimination of the groups studied. Statistically significant metabolites responsible for group separation served as a foundation for analysis of impaired metabolic pathways. It was found that the acute effect of NPs exposure is mainly reflected in the pathways related to the production of antioxidants and other protective species, while the chronic effect is manifested mainly in the alteration of glutamine and glutamate metabolism, and the purine metabolism pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the pathogenesis of lung scarring and the role of Leukotrienes (LTs), molecules produced by the immune cells of the body, and their concentration in the condensed breath of human patients of pneumoconiosis, an occupational lung disease. It states that several methods such as tandem mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography, and electrospray ionization were employed to measure the concentration of LTs in the urine of patients.

Objective: Recent experimental studies point to a high reactivity of nanoparticles and the potential of sunscreens to penetrate the skin. We measured 20 markers of oxidative stress and inflammation to find out whether skin exposure to nanoTiO2 sunscreen may elevate the level of the markers in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and urine of exposed subjects, as was suggested by our earlier study.Methods: Six volunteers (3 males and 3 females), with a mean age of 48.0 ± 6.7 years, used commercial sunscreen for three days continuously. The first samples were collected before the test. The second samples were collected on day 4, before the sunscreen was washed off, and the third samples on day 11. The following biomarkers were measured: malondialdehyde, 4-hydroxy-trans-hexenal, 4-hydroxy-trans-nonenal, aldehydes C6-C12, 8-isoProstaglandin F2α, o-tyrosine, 3-chlorotyrosine, 3-nitrotyrosine, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, 8-hydroxyguanosine, 5-hydroxymethyl uracil, and leukotrienes B4, C4, D4, and E4, using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry.Results: In the urine, 4-hydroxy-trans-hexenal was significantly higher in post-exposure sample 2, and the same trend was seen in all urinary markers. In EBC, no difference was seen between the mean values of 20 post-test markers as compared with pre-test samples.Conclusion: This study suggests potential side effects of the sunscreen - borderline elevation of markers of oxidative stress/inflammation - which may relate to the absorption of the nanoTiO2, and the non-significant difference may be explained by the small number of subjects. The effect was not seen in EBC, where nanoTiO2 was not found. A larger study is needed, as according to our previous study, the beneficial effect of the sunscreen to suppress oxidative stress caused by UV radiation may be questioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]