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Assessment of the Aerosol Generation and Toxicity of Carbon Nanotubes
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Assessment of the Aerosol Generation and Toxicity of Carbon Nanotubes

Patrick T O'Shaughnessy, Andrea Adamcakova-Dodd, Ralph Altmaier and Peter S Thorne
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland), Vol.4(2), pp.439-453
06/12/2014
DOI: 10.3390/nano4020439
PMCID: PMC5304675
PMID: 28344231
url
https://doi.org/10.3390/nano4020439View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Current interest in the pulmonary toxicity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has resulted in a need for an aerosol generation system that is capable of consistently producing a CNT aerosol at a desired concentration level. This two-part study was designed to: (1) assess the properties of a commercially-available aerosol generator when producing an aerosol from a purchased powder supply of double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs); and (2) assess the pulmonary sub-acute toxicity of DWCNTs in a murine model during a 5-day (4 h/day) whole-body exposure. The aerosol generator, consisting of a novel dustfeed mechanism and venturi ejector was determined to be capable of producing a DWCNT consistently over a 4 h exposure period at an average level of 10.8 mg/m³. The count median diameter was 121 nm with a geometric standard deviation of 2.04. The estimated deposited dose was 32 µg/mouse. The total number of cells in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was significantly ( < 0.01) increased in exposed mice compared to controls. Similarly, macrophages in BAL fluid were significantly elevated in exposed mice, but not neutrophils. All animals exposed to CNT and euthanized immediately after exposure had changes in the lung tissues showing acute inflammation and injury; however these pathological changes resolved two weeks after the exposure.
toxicity inhalation pulmonary response carbon nanotubes aerosol generation

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