TY - JOUR
T1 - Carbon nanotubes introduced into the abdominal cavity of mice show asbestos-like pathogenicity in a pilot study
AU - Poland, Craig A.
AU - Duffin, Rodger
AU - Kinloch, Ian
AU - Maynard, Andrew
AU - Wallace, William A.H.
AU - Seaton, Anthony
AU - Stone, Vicki
AU - Brown, Simon
AU - MacNee, William
AU - Donaldson, Ken
N1 - Funding Information:
We gratefully acknowledge Mitsui & Co. for the provision of a multiwalled carbon nanotube sample used. We thank S. Mitchell (University of Edinburgh) for sample preparation for SEM and technical assistance with the TEM and S. Clark (Institute of Occupational Medicine) for his technical assistance with the SEM. We thank the Colt Foundation (C.A.P., R.D., V.S. and K.D.), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Royal Academy of Engineering (I.K.) for financial support.
PY - 2008/7
Y1 - 2008/7
N2 - Carbon nanotubes have distinctive characteristics, but their needle-like fibre shape has been compared to asbestos, raising concerns that widespread use of carbon nanotubes may lead to mesothelioma, cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos. Here we show that exposing the mesothelial lining of the body cavity of mice, as a surrogate for the mesothelial lining of the chest cavity, to long multiwalled carbon nanotubes results in asbestos-like, length-dependent, pathogenic behaviour. This includes inflammation and the formation of lesions known as granulomas. This is of considerable importance, because research and business communities continue to invest heavily in carbon nanotubes for a wide range of products under the assumption that they are no more hazardous than graphite. Our results suggest the need for further research and great caution before introducing such products into the market if long-term harm is to be avoided.
AB - Carbon nanotubes have distinctive characteristics, but their needle-like fibre shape has been compared to asbestos, raising concerns that widespread use of carbon nanotubes may lead to mesothelioma, cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos. Here we show that exposing the mesothelial lining of the body cavity of mice, as a surrogate for the mesothelial lining of the chest cavity, to long multiwalled carbon nanotubes results in asbestos-like, length-dependent, pathogenic behaviour. This includes inflammation and the formation of lesions known as granulomas. This is of considerable importance, because research and business communities continue to invest heavily in carbon nanotubes for a wide range of products under the assumption that they are no more hazardous than graphite. Our results suggest the need for further research and great caution before introducing such products into the market if long-term harm is to be avoided.
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U2 - 10.1038/nnano.2008.111
DO - 10.1038/nnano.2008.111
M3 - Article
C2 - 18654567
AN - SCOPUS:46749153312
SN - 1748-3387
VL - 3
SP - 423
EP - 428
JO - Nature nanotechnology
JF - Nature nanotechnology
IS - 7
ER -