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Table 1 The toxicity profiles of different types of CNTs in comparison with asbestos (in vivo studies)

From: The Toxic Truth About Carbon Nanotubes in Water Purification: a Perspective View

Types of CNTs

Diameter/length

Cells types

Result

References

Asbestos

Diameter (0.394 μm ± 1.83 μm)

Length (6.22 μm ± 3.22 μm)

Mesothelioma (mice)

Development of extensive inflammatory and proliferative changes. The carcinogenic activity occurred.

[62, 63]

MWCNT (mixture with graphite nanofibres)

Length (5–25 μm)

Diameter (10–50 nm)

Lungs (mice)

Bronchial epithelial cell (human)

No significant lung inflammation or tissue damage but caused systemic immune function alterations.

[64, 65]

MWCNT

Length (0.5–6.1 μm)

Diameter (10–30 nm)

Lungs (rat)

Bronchial epithelial cell (human)

Release of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic mediators which could lead to lung fibrosing diseases.

[66,67,68,69]

MWCNT (Nanocyl NC 7000)

Length (5–15 nm)

Diameter (0.1–10 μm)

Lungs (Wistar rat)

Increase in BALF total cell count, pronounced multifocal granulomatous inflammation and lung fibrotic were the negative effects.

[70]

SWCNT

Length (0.7 μm)

Diameter (0.2 μm)

Intratracheal instillation (Wistar rat)

There was no increase in total cell or neutrophil count in BALF. Well-dispersed SWCNT did not induce neutrophil inflammation in the lung.

[71]

SWCNT

Length (0.1–1 μm)

Diameter (0.8–1.2 nm)

Lung (mice)

Leads to lung fibrosis effect and acute inflammatory phase reaction were also observed.

[63, 72, 73]

Rigid MWCNT

Length (5.29 μm)

Diameter (50 nm)

Mesotheliomas (rat)

Mesothelial injury by thin and thick MWCNTs is responsible for the extent of inflammogenicity and carcinogenicity.

[74, 75]

Long MWCNT

Diameter (> 20 nm)

Mesothelial lining of the chest cavity (mice)

Fibroblast formation proliferation which can lead to pulmonary fibrosis. Formation of lesions known as granulomas and inflammation occurrence were included

[76, 77]

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