Premium
Pulmonary toxicity of indium‐tin oxide production facility particles in rats
Author(s) -
Badding Melissa A.,
Fix Natalie R.,
Orandle Marlene S.,
Barger Mark W.,
Dunnick Katherine M.,
Cummings Kristin J.,
Leonard Stephen S.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of applied toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.784
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1099-1263
pISSN - 0260-437X
DOI - 10.1002/jat.3253
Subject(s) - pulmonary toxicity , toxicity , indium tin oxide , medicine , pulmonary alveolar proteinosis , lung , indium , pathology , toxicology , nanotechnology , materials science , biology , metallurgy , layer (electronics)
Abstract Indium‐tin oxide (ITO) is used to make transparent conductive coatings for touch‐screen and liquid crystal display electronics. Occupational exposures to potentially toxic particles generated during ITO production have increased in recent years as the demand for consumer electronics continues to rise. Previous studies have demonstrated cytotoxicity in vitro and animal models have shown pulmonary inflammation and injury in response to various indium‐containing particles. In humans, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) and fibrotic interstitial lung disease have been observed in ITO facility workers. However, which indium materials or specific processes in the workplace may be the most toxic to workers is unknown. Here we examined the pulmonary toxicity of three different particle samples that represent real‐life worker exposures, as they were collected at various production stages throughout an ITO facility. Indium oxide (In 2 O 3 ), sintered ITO (SITO) and ventilation dust (VD) particles each caused pulmonary inflammation and damage in rats over a time course (1, 7 and 90 days post‐intratracheal instillation), but SITO and VD appeared to induce greater toxicity in rat lungs than In 2 O 3 at a dose of 1 mg per rat. Downstream pathological changes such as PAP and fibrosis were observed in response to all three particles 90 days after treatment, with a trend towards greatest severity in animals exposed to VD when comparing animals that received the same dose. These findings may inform workplace exposure reduction efforts and provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis of an emerging occupational health issue. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.