Toxicity of TiO(2), ZnO, and SiO(2) Nanoparticles in Human Lung Cells: Safe-by-Design Development of Construction Materials

Rapid progress in the development of highly efficient nanoparticle-based construction technologies has not always been accompanied by a corresponding understanding of their effects on human health and ecosystems. In this study, we compare the toxicological effects of pristine TiO(2), ZnO, SiO(2), and coated SiO(2) nanoparticles, and evaluate their suitability as additives to consolidants of weathered construction materials. First, water soluble tetrazolium 1 (WST-1) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays were used to determine the viability of human alveolar A549 cells at various nanoparticle concentrations (0–250 μg mL(−1)). While the pristine TiO(2) and coated SiO(2) nanoparticles did not exhibit any cytotoxic effects up to the highest tested concentration, the pristine SiO(2) and ZnO nanoparticles significantly reduced cell viability. Second, as all developed nanoparticle-modified consolidants increased the mechanical strength of weathered sandstone, the decisive criterion for the selection of the most suitable nanoparticle additive was as low toxicity as possible. We believe that this approach would be of high importance in the industry, to identify materials representing top functional properties and low toxicity, at an early stage of the product development.