Toxicological evaluation of carbon nanotubes from a lifecycle perspective

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bishop L ; Bonner J ; Erdely A ; Sargent L
• Description:
  In recent years, the unique characteristics of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) have been harnessed to advance material science applications. Unfortunately, those same characteristics may also confer adverse health effects. Companies are actively pursuing avenues which apply a surface coating (e.g. polymer or metals) to as-produced multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in an attempt to enhance functionality, conserve material by facilitating dispersion, and decrease human exposure. Currently, very little is known about the toxicity of these coated materials. MWCNT-enabled products, such as composites, once formed, may then undergo sanding or grinding operations, creating a particulate aerosol of MWCNT and composite matrix with the potential for inhalation exposure. As the process moves from the as-produced MWCNT to manipulation of formed composites, the number of potentially exposed individuals increases, although significant reductions in exposure are predicted from nano-release studies and exposure assessments. Toxicologic and pathologic evaluations showed that in several cases, including aluminum or a proprietary polymer coating, pulmonary inflammation and cytotoxicity were reduced after in vivo exposure. In addition, pulmonary fibrosis was significantly reduced as a result of surface coating. In vitro genotoxicity screening for micronuclei using a pancentromeric probe to detect loss of whole chromosomes and/or chromosome breakage demonstrated that some industrial coatings reduced the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes. These findings enable an efficient and accurate safety profiling of MWCNT of varying characteristics along the lifecycle in conditions representing the greatest risk of inhalation exposure and enhance regulatory decision-making regarding the impact of human exposures. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Chromosomes Cytotoxins Hazardous Substances Laboratories Lung Lung Diseases Metals Occupational Health Polymers Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Toxicology

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• Keywords:
  Chromosome Damage Coatings Cytotoxicity Dispersion Genotoxicity Hazardous Materials Health Effects Health Hazards Industrial Design Industrial Engineering Industrial Processes Laboratory Testing Lung Fibrosis Materials Testing Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes MWCNT Nanocomposites Nanotechnology Nanotubes Pathogenicity Pulmonary Effects Surface Properties

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• ISSN:
  1096-6080
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Louisiana ; North Carolina ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 6 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  150
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20047646
• Citation:
  Toxicologist 2016 Mar; 150(1):164
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon nanotubes (CAS RN 308068-56-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  The Toxicologist. Society of Toxicology 55th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo, March 13-17, 2016, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f765e843e4239b86b86e8cbc9c47da693476b3623f377986e5481cff5dad267b4721681489b97cf700223cde25d3b5fcfad842eed563192a7869a5591515e767
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/202660/cdc_202660_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 441.44 KB ]