Health effects on workers exposed to engineered nanomaterials: Short review

The huge increase in the nanotechnology industry has also resulted in an enormous growth in the number of workers exposure in nanoparticles. Consequently, researches has been carried out regarding health and safety risks of engineered nanomaterials and the regulation of potencial new hazards is a global concern. However little is known about the impact of engineered nanomaterials in human health. This short review purpose is to identify the potencial human health effects resulting from occupational exposure to engineered nanomaterials, supported on data base search. the article search revealed 5 studies on health performed in work-places and 14 in vitro and in vivo studies. Lung inflammatory effects, cytoxicity, oxidative stress and DNA damage were the most referred as potencial health effects. However, more studies are still needed to obtain reliable data about nanomaterials effects on human health.