Evaluation of the Potential in Vivo Genotoxicity of Tungsten (VI) Oxide Nanopowder for Human Health

摘要

Tungsten (VI) oxide particles (WO_3, <100 nm particle size) are used for many purposes including production of electro chromic windows, or smart windows, x-ray screen phosphors and gas sensors in everyday life. However, the carcinogenic and genotoxic potential of this nanomaterial have not been sufficiently evaluated. Therefore, the genotoxic potential of WO_3 was examined in Sprague-Dawley rat bone marrow cells by using mitotic index (MI), micronucleus (MN) and chromosome aberrations (CA) assays. Rats were orally gavaged with a single dose of WO_3 (0, 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) for 30 days. All WO_3 treatments significantly decreased MI rates as compared to the control group. No increase in the incidence of CA was observed at any WO_3 nanoparticle dose in the CA test although MN formation was significantly (P<0.05) increased for 50 and 100 mg/kg doses. The observed alterations in MN and MI parameters reveal that WO_3 has cytotoxic and genotoxic potential and could pose environmental and human health risk.