Respiratory toxicity and immunotoxicity evaluations of microparticle and nanoparticle C60 fullerene aggregates in mice and rats following nose-only inhalation for 13 weeks.

ABSTRACT: C60 fullerene (C60), or buckminsterfullerene, is a spherical arrangement of 60 carbon atoms, having a diameter of approximately 1 nm, and is produced naturally as a by-product of combustion. Due to its small size, C60 has attracted much attention for use in a variety of applications; however, insufficient information is available regarding its toxicological effects. The effects on respiratory toxicity and immunotoxicity of C60 aggregates (50 nm [nano-C60] and 1 μm [micro-C60] diameter) were examined in B6C3F1/N mice and Wistar Han rats after nose-only inhalation for 13 weeks. Exposure concentrations were selected to allow for data evaluations using both mass-based and particle surface area-based exposure metrics. Nano-C60 exposure levels selected were 0.5 and 2 mg/m³ (0.033 and

SUBMITTER: Sayers BC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5215911 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature