Inhaled nanomaterials: dose metrics for risk assessment

Nanomaterials are tiny particles with special properties that are increasingly being used in consumer products such as sun cream, deodorant and textiles. The effect of nanomaterials on human health, however, is unclear. This research study investigated how the lungs respond after inhaling silver nanoparticles. The particles caused an acute inflammatory response, which the body resolved naturally within a few days. Other nanoparticles will trigger different responses. In the future, we may be able to test other nanoparticles using cultured human cells. This will help us determine the right dose unit for each identified particle type. In the case of silver nanoparticles, the ideal dose unit was the entire surface area.