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Thoma T, Ma-Hock L, Schneider S, Honarvar N, Treumann S, Groeters S, Strauss V, Marxfeld H, Funk-Weyer D, Seiffert S, Wohlleben W, Dammann M, Wiench K, Lombaert N, Spirlet C, Vasquez M, Dewhurst N, Landsiedel R. Toxicological inhalation studies in rats to substantiate grouping of zinc oxide nanoforms. Part Fibre Toxicol 2024; 21:24. [PMID: 38760761 PMCID: PMC11100124 DOI: 10.1186/s12989-024-00572-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Significant variations exist in the forms of ZnO, making it impossible to test all forms in in vivo inhalation studies. Hence, grouping and read-across is a common approach under REACH to evaluate the toxicological profile of familiar substances. The objective of this paper is to investigate the potential role of dissolution, size, or coating in grouping ZnO (nano)forms for the purpose of hazard assessment. We performed a 90-day inhalation study (OECD test guideline no. (TG) 413) in rats combined with a reproduction/developmental (neuro)toxicity screening test (TG 421/424/426) with coated and uncoated ZnO nanoforms in comparison with microscale ZnO particles and soluble zinc sulfate. In addition, genotoxicity in the nasal cavity, lungs, liver, and bone marrow was examined via comet assay (TG 489) after 14-day inhalation exposure. RESULTS ZnO nanoparticles caused local toxicity in the respiratory tract. Systemic effects that were not related to the local irritation were not observed. There was no indication of impaired fertility, developmental toxicity, or developmental neurotoxicity. No indication for genotoxicity of any of the test substances was observed. Local effects were similar across the different ZnO test substances and were reversible after the end of the exposure. CONCLUSION With exception of local toxicity, this study could not confirm the occasional findings in some of the previous studies regarding the above-mentioned toxicological endpoints. The two representative ZnO nanoforms and the microscale particles showed similar local effects. The ZnO nanoforms most likely exhibit their effects by zinc ions as no particles could be detected after the end of the exposure, and exposure to rapidly soluble zinc sulfate had similar effects. Obviously, material differences between the ZnO particles do not substantially alter their toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics. The grouping of ZnO nanoforms into a set of similar nanoforms is justified by these observations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lan Ma-Hock
- BASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Steffen Schneider
- BASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Naveed Honarvar
- BASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Silke Treumann
- BASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Sibylle Groeters
- BASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Volker Strauss
- BASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Heike Marxfeld
- BASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Dorothee Funk-Weyer
- BASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Svenja Seiffert
- BASF SE, Analytical and Material Science, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Wendel Wohlleben
- BASF SE, Analytical and Material Science, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Martina Dammann
- BASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Karin Wiench
- BASF SE, Product Stewardship, Regulatory Toxicology Chemicals, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Robert Landsiedel
- BASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
- Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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Monsé C, Merget R, Pallapies D, Brüning T, Bünger J. Reply on the comments of Ulla Vogel and colleagues on their recently published paper entitled "Re-evaluation of the occupational exposure limit for ZnO is warranted. Comments on 'Systemic inflammatory effects of zinc oxide particles: is a re-evaluation of exposure limits needed?' by Christian Monsé et al.". Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:1023-1024. [PMID: 38197914 PMCID: PMC10861704 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03668-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Monsé
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-La-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Rolf Merget
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-La-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany
| | - Dirk Pallapies
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-La-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany
| | - Thomas Brüning
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-La-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jürgen Bünger
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-La-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany
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