Inhalation toxicity, pulmonary clearance, and biotransformation of ferric oxide nanoparticles in rats

Ferric oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticles are widely used in industrial and biomedical applications, raising concerns regarding inhalation exposure, particularly in occupational settings. Although the inhalation toxicity of magnetite (Fe3O4) was reported, no studies have addressed the pulmonary clearance, biotransformation, or systemic distribution of Fe2O3 nanoparticles. In this study, male rats were exposed nose-only to aerosols of γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles at concentrations of 0.56, 1.63, and 4.92 mg/m3 for 6 h/day, 5 d/week, over 28 d, followed by recovery periods of 7 and 28 d. Particulate and ionic iron were separately collected via proteinase K digestion and quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated using…

• MO
  Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea

  Award: RS-2024-00336383
• KE
  Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology

  Award: 20025755