Pulmonary Toxicity of Carbon Nanotubes

Details

• Personal Author:
  Arepalli S ; Baron, Paul A. ; Castranova, Vincent ; Gandelsman VZ ; Gorelik O ; Hubbs, Ann F. ; Johnson V ; Kagan VE ; Kisin E ; Mercer RR ; Murray AR ; Shvedova AA
• Description:
  Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are new members of carbon allotropes similar to fullerenes and graphite. Because of their unique electrical, mechanical and thermal properties, carbon nanotubes are being evaluated for novel applications in the electronics, aerospace and computer industries. Previously, we have observed that exposure of human bronchial epithelial cells to CNT induced iron-dependent oxidative stress, depletion of antioxidants, morphological changes, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis. In the current study, we investigated pulmonary toxicity of CNT in C57BL/6 mice after pharyngeal aspiration. End points were examined on days 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 60 post-exposure. We found that CNT caused dose-dependent formation of granulomatous bronchointerstitial pneumonia, fibrosis, and altered pulmonary function. Administration of CNT to C57BL/6 mice also resulted in a dose-dependent augmentation of inflammation biomarkers quantified by cell counts, total protein, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) activities in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples. Markers of pulmonary cytotoxicity were associated with the development of inflammation, collagen accumulation, and pulmonary fibrosis. TGF-B was maximally increased in BAL fluid of mice 7 days after CNT exposure and correlated with morphometric evidence of collagen formation as well as pulmonary function changes. Mice exposed to an equal mass of ultrafine carbon black or fine crystalline silica exhibited less PMN recruitment and cytotoxicity than mice receiving CNT. Our data suggest that exposure to CNT leads to pulmonary toxicity involving inflammation and oxidative stress, which culminates in the development of multifocal granulomatous pneumonia and fibrosis. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerospace Medicine Animals Biomarkers Cytotoxins Environmental Monitoring Fibrosis Hazardous Substances Laboratories Occupational Health Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Temperature

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• Keywords:
  Aerospace-industry Animal-studies Cytotoxic-effects Cytotoxicity Electronics-industry Exposure-assessment Exposure-levels Laboratory-animals Nanotechnology Pulmonary-system-disorders Respiratory-system-disorders Thermal-properties Toxic-effects Toxins

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• ISSN:
  1096-6080
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 6 ; Pennsylvania ; Texas ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division ; DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  84
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20026453
• Citation:
  Toxicologist 2005 Mar; 84(Suppl 1):212
• CAS Registry Number:
  Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2005
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  The Toxicologist. Society of Toxicology 44th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo, March 6-10, 2005, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Supplement:
  1
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:484d468ac0eabc6185b26c15b46b4abce8b3cbfa7cf47184d52a4a4054b87f324fe8f5a0add6c7127a9b8a6a4ba7a5ee630a27494a89ea33ed5fdfc39e6c7e2d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/197289/cdc_197289_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 331.88 KB ]