Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38760761›Full record

ArticleParticle and fibre toxicology2024

Toxicological inhalation studies in rats to substantiate grouping of zinc oxide nanoforms.

Tizia Thoma, Lan Ma-Hock, Steffen Schneider, Naveed Honarvar, Silke Treumann, Sibylle Groeters, Volker Strauss, Heike Marxfeld, Dorothee Funk-Weyer, Svenja Seiffert and 8 more

Erratum issuedAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Particle and fibre toxicology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. A quantitative definition for poorly soluble particles.Particle and fibre toxicology · 2026
    Article
  2. Readiness of theFrontiers in toxicology · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Tizia Thoma *BASF Services Europe GmbH, Berlin, Germany.
Lan Ma-Hock *BASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
Steffen SchneiderBASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
Naveed HonarvarBASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
Silke TreumannBASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
Sibylle GroetersBASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
Volker StraussBASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
Heike MarxfeldBASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
Dorothee Funk-WeyerBASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
Svenja SeiffertBASF SE, Analytical and Material Science, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
Wendel WohllebenBASF SE, Analytical and Material Science, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
Martina DammannBASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
Karin WienchBASF SE, Product Stewardship, Regulatory Toxicology Chemicals, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
Noömi LombaertInternational Zinc Association, Brussels, Belgium.
Christine SpirletInternational Zinc Association, Brussels, Belgium.
Marie VasquezHelix3 Inc., Morrisville, NC, USA.
Nicole DewhurstHelix3 Inc., Morrisville, NC, USA.
Robert LandsiedelBASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany. robert.landsiedel@fu-berlin.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSignificant variations exist in the forms of ZnO, making it impossible to test all forms in in vivo inhalation studies. Hence, grouping and read-across is a common approach under REACH to evaluate the toxicological profile of familiar substances. The objective of this paper is to investigate the potential role of dissolution, size, or coating in grouping ZnO (nano)forms for the purpose of hazard assessment. We performed a 90-day inhalation study (OECD test guideline no. (TG) 413) in rats combined with a reproduction/developmental (neuro)toxicity screening test (TG 421/424/426) with coated and uncoated ZnO nanoforms in comparison with microscale ZnO particles and soluble zinc sulfate. In addition, genotoxicity in the nasal cavity, lungs, liver, and bone marrow was examined via comet assay (TG 489) after 14-day inhalation exposure.

resultsZnO nanoparticles caused local toxicity in the respiratory tract. Systemic effects that were not related to the local irritation were not observed. There was no indication of impaired fertility, developmental toxicity, or developmental neurotoxicity. No indication for genotoxicity of any of the test substances was observed. Local effects were similar across the different ZnO test substances and were reversible after the end of the exposure.

conclusionWith exception of local toxicity, this study could not confirm the occasional findings in some of the previous studies regarding the above-mentioned toxicological endpoints. The two representative ZnO nanoforms and the microscale particles showed similar local effects. The ZnO nanoforms most likely exhibit their effects by zinc ions as no particles could be detected after the end of the exposure, and exposure to rapidly soluble zinc sulfate had similar effects. Obviously, material differences between the ZnO particles do not substantially alter their toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics. The grouping of ZnO nanoforms into a set of similar nanoforms is justified by these observations.

Indexed as

Inhalation ExposureZinc OxideAdministration, InhalationAnimalsComet AssayDNA DamageFemaleLiverLungMaleMetal NanoparticlesParticle SizeRatsRats, WistarReproductionZinc OxideDevelopmental toxicityGenotoxicityInhalation toxicityMetal oxideNanoparticlesReproductive toxicityZinc oxide

Identifiers

PMID38760761
PMCPMC11100124

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.