Health implications of engineered nanoparticles in infants and children

Song Tang, Mao Wang, Kaylyn E Germ, Hua-Mao Du, Wen-Jie Sun, Wei-Min Gao,

Gregory D Mayer

Lubbock, USA

Author Affiliations: The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79416, USA (Tang S, Germ KE, Gao WM, Mayer GD); School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada (Tang S); Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China (Wang M); College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China (Du HM); School of Food Science, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Zhongshan 528458, China (Sun WJ); Department of Global Health and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA (Sun WJ)

Corresponding Author: Wen-Jie Sun, MD, School of Food Science, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Zhongshan 528458, China; Department of Global Health and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2100, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA (Tel: 504-988-4223, Email: wsun3@tulane.edu)

doi: 10.1007/s12519-015-0028-0

Background: The nanotechnology boom and the ability to manufacture novel nanomaterials have led to increased production and use of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs). However, the increased use of various ENPs inevitably results in their release in or the contamination of the environment, which poses significant threats to human health. In recent years, extraordinary economic and societal benefits of nanoproducts as well as their potential risks have been observed and widely debated. To estimate whether ENPs are safe from the onset of their manufacturing to their disposal, evaluation of the toxicological effects of ENPs on human exposure, especially on more sensitive and vulnerable sectors of the population (infants and children) is essential.

Data sources: Papers were obtained from PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Literature search words included: "nanoparticles", "infants", "children", "exposure", "toxicity", and all relevant cross-references.

Results: A brief overview was conducted to 1) characterize potential exposure routes of ENPs for infants and children; 2) describe the vulnerability and particular needs of infants and children about ENPs exposure; 3) investigate the current knowledge about the potential health hazards of ENPs; and 4) provide suggestions for future research and regulations in ENP applications.

Conclusions: As the manufacturing and use of ENPs become more widespread, directed and focused studies are necessary to measure actual exposure levels and to determine adverse health consequences in infants and children.

                                                                                             World J Pediatr 2015;11(3):197-206

Key words: developmental effects; human exposure; maternal-fetal transmission; nanopediatrics; nanotoxicity