Recent studies have shown that engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) are incorporated into toner powder used in printing equipment and released during their use. Thus, understanding the functional and structural composition and potential synergistic effects of this complex aerosol and released gaseous co-pollutants is critical in assessing their potential toxicological implications and risks. In this study, toner powder and PEPs were thoroughly examined for functional and molecular composition of the organic fraction and the concentration profile of 16 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) using state of the art analytical methods. Results show significant differences in abundance of non-exchangeable organic hydrogen of toner powder and PEPs, with a stronger aromatic spectral signature in PEPs. Changes in structural composition of PEPs are indicative of radical additions and free-radical polymerization favored by catalytic reactions, resulting in formation of functionalized organic species. Particularly, accumulation of aromatic carbons with strong styrene-like molecular signatures on PEPs is associated with formation of semi-volatile heavier aromatic species (i.e., PAHs). Further, the transformation of low molecular weight PAHs in the toner powder to high molecular weight PAHs in PEPs was documented and quantified. This may be a result of synergistic effects from catalytic metal/metal oxide ENPs incorporated into the toner and the presence/release of semi-volatile organic species (SVOCs). The presence of known carcinogenic PAHs on PEPs raises public health concerns and warrants further toxicological assessment.

中文翻译：

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使用纳米碳粉的激光打印机释放的工程纳米粒子和有机物的协同效应：从暴露于排放的有机气溶胶

最近的研究表明，工程纳米粒子 (ENP) 被纳入打印设备中使用的碳粉中，并在使用过程中释放。因此，了解这种复杂气溶胶和释放的气态副污染物的功能和结构组成以及潜在的协同效应对于评估其潜在的毒理学影响和风险至关重要。在这项研究中，使用最先进的分析方法彻底检查了碳粉和 PEP 的有机部分的功能和分子组成以及 16 种环境保护局 (EPA) 优先考虑的多环芳烃 (PAH) 的浓度分布。结果显示，碳粉和 PEP 中不可交换有机氢的丰度存在显着差异，PEP 中具有更强的芳香光谱特征。PEP 结构组成的变化表明催化反应有利于自由基加成和自由基聚合，从而形成官能化有机物质。特别是，PEP 上具有强烈类苯乙烯分子特征的芳香碳的积累与半挥发性重芳香族物质（即 PAH）的形成有关。此外，还记录并量化了调色剂粉末中低分子量 PAH 向 PEP 中高分子量 PAH 的转化。这可能是碳粉中加入的催化金属/金属氧化物 ENP 和半挥发性有机物质 (SVOC) 的存在/释放的协同效应的结果。PEP 中存在已知的致癌多环芳烃，引起了公众健康问题，并需要进一步进行毒理学评估。