Magnetite pollution nanoparticles in the human brain

Maher, Barbara A.; Ahmed, Imad A. M.; Karloukovski, Vassil; MacLaren, Donald A.; Foulds, Penelope G.; Allsop, David; Mann, David M. A.; Torres‐Jardón, Ricardo; Calderón‐Garcidueñas, Lilian

doi:10.1073/pnas.1605941113

articleProceedings of the National Academy of SciencesSep 6, 2016BRONZE OA

Magnetite pollution nanoparticles in the human brain

BABarbara A. Maher IAImad A. M. Ahmed VKVassil Karloukovski DADonald A. MacLaren PGPenelope G. Foulds

Lancaster University · University of Oxford · +6 more institutions

PubMed

Indexed incrossrefpubmed

Abstract

Biologically formed nanoparticles of the strongly magnetic mineral, magnetite, were first detected in the human brain over 20 y ago [Kirschvink JL, Kobayashi-Kirschvink A, Woodford BJ (1992) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89(16):7683-7687]. Magnetite can have potentially large impacts on the brain due to its unique combination of redox activity, surface charge, and strongly magnetic behavior. We used magnetic analyses and electron microscopy to identify the abundant presence in the brain of magnetite nanoparticles that are consistent with high-temperature formation, suggesting, therefore, an external, not internal, source. Comprising a separate nanoparticle population from the euhedral particles ascribed to endogenous…

Citation impact

1,030

total citations

FWCI: 46.13
Percentile: 100%
References: 37

Citations per year

Authors

9

Topics & keywords

Topics

Keywords

Pollution
Magnetite Nanoparticles
Magnetite
Nanoparticle
Environmental science
Environmental chemistry
Nanotechnology
Chemistry

No related works found for this paper.