NIOSH Scientists Conduct Pulmonary Exposure Study
Nine NIOSH researchers in West Virginia recently published a study regarding the potential cardiovascular effects of pulmonary exposure to SWCNTs. In the study, mice were exposed to SWCNTs by intrapharyngeal instillation. The mice showed oxidative stress in lung, aorta, and heart tissues seven days after exposure, which declined to control levels within 28 days. They also showed the possibility of mtDNA oxidative damage up to 60 days after exposure, and a possible increase in the risk of atherosclerosis due to exposure. The authors concluded that “[t]hese studies demonstrate that SWCNTs, under the described conditions, have the potential to influence cardiovascular diseases.”
Z. Li,. “Cardiovascular Effects of Pulmonary Exposure to Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes,” Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 115, No. 3 (March 2007).
