Title
Detection of titanium particles in human liver and spleen and possible health implications
Author
Heringa, M.B.
Peters, R.J.B.
Bleys, R.L.A.W.
van der Lee, M.K.
Tromp, P.C.
van Kesteren, P.C.E.
van Eijkeren, J.C.H.
Undas, A.K.
Oomen, A.G.
Bouwmeester, H.
Publication year
2018
Abstract
Background: Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is produced at high volumes and applied in many consumer and food products. Recent toxicokinetic modelling indicated the potential of TiO2 to accumulate in human liver and spleen upon daily oral exposure, which is not routinely investigated in chronic animal studies. A health risk from nanosized TiO2 particle consumption could not be excluded then. Results: Here we show the first quantification of both total titanium (Ti) and TiO2 particles in 15 post-mortem human livers and spleens. These low-level analyses were enabled by the use of fully validated (single particle) inductively coupled plasma high resolution mass spectrometry ((sp)ICP-HRMS) detection methods for total Ti and TiO2 particles. The presence of TiO2 in the particles in tissues was confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. Conclusions: These results prove that TiO2 particles are present in human liver and spleen, with ≥24% of nanosize (< 100 nm). The levels are below the doses regarded as safe in animals, but half are above the dose that is deemed safe for liver damage in humans when taking into account several commonly applied uncertainty factors. With these new and unique human data, we remain with the conclusion that health risks due to oral exposure to TiO2 cannot be excluded. © 2018 The Author(s).
Subject
Environment & Sustainability
Health
Urbanisation
Human liver
Human spleen
Nanoparticle
Quantification
Risk assessment
Sp-ICP-HRMS
Tissue level
Titanium dioxide
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12989-018-0251-7
TNO identifier
788514
ISSN
1743-8977
Source
Particle and Fibre Toxicology, 15 (1)
Article number
15
Document type
article