Thousands of researchers and workers worldwide are employed in nanocomposites manufacturing, yet little is known about their respiratory health. Aerosol exposures were characterized using real time and integrated instruments. Aerosol mass concentration ranged from 0.120 mg/m³ to 1.840 mg/m³ during nanocomposite machining processes; median particle number concentration ranged from 4.8 × 10⁴ to 5.4 × 10⁵ particles/cm³. The proportion of nanoparticles varied by process from 40 to 95%. Twenty employees, working in nanocomposite materials research were examined pre-shift and post-shift using spirometry and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in parallel with 21 controls. Pro-inflammatory leukotrienes (LT) type B4, C4, D4, and E4; tumor necrosis factor (TNF); interleukins; and anti-inflammatory lipoxins (LXA4 and LXB4) were analyzed in their exhaled breath condensate (EBC). Chronic bronchitis was present in 20% of researchers, but not in controls. A significant decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) was found in researchers post-shift (p ˂ 0.05). Post-shift EBC samples were higher for TNF (p ˂ 0.001), LTB4 (p ˂ 0.001), and LTE4 (p ˂ 0.01) compared with controls. Nanocomposites production was associated with LTB4 (p ˂ 0.001), LTE4 (p ˂ 0.05), and TNF (p ˂ 0.001), in addition to pre-shift LTD4 and LXB4 (both p ˂ 0.05). Spirometry documented minor, but significant, post-shift lung impairment. TNF and LTB4 were the most robust markers of biological effects. Proper ventilation and respiratory protection are required during nanocomposites processing.

Biocev 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prumyslova 595 252 50 Vestec Czech Republic

Department of Machining and Assembly Department of Engineering Technology Department of Material Science Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Technical University in Liberec 461 17 Liberec Czech Republic

Department of Occupational Medicine 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague and General University Hospital Prague Na Bojišti 1 128 00 Prague 2 Czech Republic

Faculty of Physical Education and Sport 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague and General University Hospital Prague José Marího 31 162 52 Prague Czech Republic

Institute of Biophysics and Informatics 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague and General University Hospital Prague Salmovska 1 120 00 Prague Czech Republic

Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS Rozvojova 1 135 165 02 Prague Czech Republic

UMass Lowell Department of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences Lowell MA 01854 USA

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