Anemia and genotoxicity induced by sub-chronic intragastric treatment of rats with titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

Abstract Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 NPs) are widely used for their whiteness and opacity. We investigated the hematological effects and genotoxicity of anatase TiO 2 NPs following sub-chronic oral gavage treatment. TiO 2 -NPs were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Wistar rats were treated with anatase TiO 2 NPs by intragastric administration for 60 days. Hematological analysis showed a significant decrease in RBC and HCT and a significant increase in MCV, PLT, MPV and WBC at higher doses. Furthermore, abnormally shaped red cells, sometimes containing micronuclei, and hyper-segmented neutrophil nuclei were observed with TiO 2 NPs treatment. The micronucleus test revealed damage to chromosomes in rat bone marrow at 100 and 200 mg/kg bw; the comet assay showed significant DNA damage at the same doses.