Particle and Fibre Toxicology Mesothelioma: Do Asbestos and Carbon Nanotubes Pose the Same Health Risk?

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the product of new technology, may be used in a wide range of applications. Because they present similarities to asbestos fibres in terms of their shape and size, it is legitimate to raise the question of their safety for human health. Recent animal and cellular studies suggest that CNTs elicit tissue and cell responses similar to those observed with asbestos fibres, which increases concern about the adverse biological effects of CNTs. While asbestos fibres' mechanisms of action are not fully understood, sufficient results are available to develop hypotheses about the significant factors underlying their damaging effects. This review will summarize the current state of knowledge about the biological effects of CNTs and will discuss to what extent they present similarities to those of asbestos fibres. Finally, the characteristics of asbestos known to be associated with toxicity will be analyzed to address the possible impact of CNTs.

[1]  Antonio Marcomini,et al.  Genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and reactive oxygen species induced by single‐walled carbon nanotubes and C60 fullerenes in the FE1‐Muta™Mouse lung epithelial cells , 2008, Environmental and molecular mutagenesis.

[2]  Ken Donaldson,et al.  An introduction to the short-term toxicology of respirable industrial fibres. , 2004, Mutation research.

[3]  Minnamari Vippola,et al.  Genotoxicity of nanomaterials: DNA damage and micronuclei induced by carbon nanotubes and graphite nanofibres in human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro. , 2009, Toxicology letters.

[4]  G. Machado-Santelli,et al.  Chrysotile effects on human lung cell carcinoma in culture: 3-D reconstruction and DNA quantification by image analysis , 2008, BMC Cancer.

[5]  Anne Janin,et al.  Hemizygosity of Nf2 is associated with increased susceptibility to asbestos-induced peritoneal tumours , 2003, Oncogene.

[6]  S. Levin,et al.  Environmental exposure to Libby Asbestos and mesotheliomas. , 2008, American journal of industrial medicine.

[7]  V. Vallyathan,et al.  Diseases caused by asbestos: mechanisms of injury and disease development. , 2002, International immunopharmacology.

[8]  H. Karlsson,et al.  Copper oxide nanoparticles are highly toxic: a comparison between metal oxide nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes. , 2008, Chemical research in toxicology.

[9]  Yitao Ding,et al.  Intracellular uptake, trafficking and subcellular distribution of folate conjugated single walled carbon nanotubes within living cells , 2008, Nanotechnology.

[10]  Albert Duschl,et al.  SWCNT suppress inflammatory mediator responses in human lung epithelium in vitro. , 2009, Toxicology and applied pharmacology.

[11]  Henri Szwarc,et al.  Toxicity studies of carbon nanotubes. , 2007, Advances in experimental medicine and biology.

[12]  Vincent Castranova,et al.  Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes: Geno- and Cytotoxic Effects in Lung Fibroblast V79 Cells , 2007, Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A.

[13]  Xianglin Shi,et al.  Diseases caused by silica: mechanisms of injury and disease development. , 2002, International immunopharmacology.

[14]  F. Ciardiello,et al.  Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in human carcinogenesis , 2007, International journal of cancer.

[15]  A. Zuckerman,et al.  IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans , 1995, IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans.

[16]  Z. Gu,et al.  Biodistribution of carbon single-wall carbon nanotubes in mice. , 2004, Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology.

[17]  M. Jaurand.  Mechanisms of fiber-induced genotoxicity. , 1997, Environmental health perspectives.

[18]  Pasquale Onorato,et al.  Micro-Raman study of the role of sterilization on carbon nanotubes for biomedical applications. , 2010, Nanomedicine.

[19]  P Yeung,et al.  An occupation-industry matrix analysis of mesothelioma cases in Australia 1980-1985. , 2001, Applied occupational and environmental hygiene.

[20]  Claudio Bianchi,et al.  Malignant mesothelioma: global incidence and relationship with asbestos. , 2007, Industrial health.

[21]  B. Gylseth,et al.  Occupational exposure and regional variation of malignant mesothelioma in Norway, 1970-79. , 1986, American journal of industrial medicine.

[22]  B. Fubini,et al.  Surface reactivity in the pathogenic response to particulates. , 1997, Environmental health perspectives.

[23]  Steven A Curley,et al.  Mammalian pharmacokinetics of carbon nanotubes using intrinsic near-infrared fluorescence , 2006, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[24]  H. Norppa,et al.  DNA damage in bronchial epithelial and mesothelial cells with and without associated crocidolite asbestos fibers , 2004, Environmental and molecular mutagenesis.

[25]  Stefano Bellucci,et al.  Multi-walled carbon nanotubes: Lack of mutagenic activity in the bacterial reverse mutation assay. , 2009, Toxicology letters.

[26]  J. W. Hill.  Man-made mineral fibres. , 1978, The Journal of the Society of Occupational Medicine.

[27]  François Huaux,et al.  Clastogenic and aneugenic effects of multi-wall carbon nanotubes in epithelial cells. , 2008, Carcinogenesis.

[28]  P. Morrow,et al.  Size Dependent Lymphatic Short Term Clearance of Amosite Fibres in the Lung , 1988 .

[29]  M. Jaurand,et al.  A Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopic Study , 2007 .

[30]  G. Sancini,et al.  Translocation pathways for inhaled asbestos fibers , 2008, Environmental health : a global access science source.

[31]  Diane Schwegler-Berry,et al.  Potential in vitro effects of carbon nanotubes on human aortic endothelial cells. , 2009, Toxicology and applied pharmacology.

[32]  K. Donaldson,et al.  Superoxide anion release by alveolar macrophages exposed to respirable industrial fibres: modifying effect of fibre opsonisation. , 1995, Experimental and toxicologic pathology : official journal of the Gesellschaft fur Toxikologische Pathologie.

[33]  V. Broaddus,et al.  Vitronectin adsorption to chrysotile asbestos increases fiber phagocytosis and toxicity for mesothelial cells. , 2000, American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology.

[34]  M. Prato,et al.  Opportunities and challenges of carbon-based nanomaterials for cancer therapy. , 2008, Expert opinion on drug delivery.

[35]  Liming Dai,et al.  DNA damage induced by multiwalled carbon nanotubes in mouse embryonic stem cells. , 2007, Nano letters.

[36]  W. Wallace,et al.  In vitro genotoxicity studies of chrysotile asbestos fibers dispersed in simulated pulmonary surfactant. , 1994, Mutation research.

[37]  W. Stark,et al.  The degree and kind of agglomeration affect carbon nanotube cytotoxicity. , 2007, Toxicology letters.

[38]  Sophie Lanone,et al.  Potential uses of carbon nanotubes in the medical field: how worried should patients be? , 2007, Nanomedicine.

[39]  J. Pairon,et al.  Adverse effects of industrial multi-walled carbon nanotubes on human pulmonary cells , 2010 .

[40]  M. Lippmann.  Deposition and retention of inhaled fibres: effects on incidence of lung cancer and mesothelioma. , 1994, Occupational and environmental medicine.

[41]  T. Hei,et al.  Serial Review : Role of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species ( ROS / RNS ) in Lung Injury and Diseases , 2003 .

[42]  C. Magnani,et al.  Asbestos and cancer: An overview of current trends in Europe. , 1999, Environmental health perspectives.

[43]  D. Henderson,et al.  Loss of heterozygosity in asbestos‐induced mutations in a human mesothelioma cell line , 1995, Environmental and molecular mutagenesis.

[44]  Akihiko Hirose,et al.  Induction of mesothelioma by a single intrascrotal administration of multi-wall carbon nanotube in intact male Fischer 344 rats. , 2009, The Journal of toxicological sciences.

[45]  Kangning Sun,et al.  Toxicological effects of multi-wall carbon nanotubes in rats , 2008 .

[46]  M Lippmann,et al.  Deposition, retention, and clearance of inhaled particles. , 1980, British journal of industrial medicine.

[47]  François Béguin,et al.  Structural defects play a major role in the acute lung toxicity of multiwall carbon nanotubes: toxicological aspects. , 2008, Chemical research in toxicology.

[48]  G. Oberdörster,et al.  Determinants of the pathogenicity of man-made vitreous fibers (MMVF) , 2000, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[49]  A. Brooks.  Evidence for ‘bystander effects’ in vivo , 2004, Human & experimental toxicology.

[50]  K. Donaldson,et al.  Asbestos‐stimulated tumour necrosis factor release from alveolar macrophages depends on fibre length and opsonization , 1992, The Journal of pathology.

[51]  M. Jaurand.  Use of in-vitro genotoxicity and cell transformation assays to evaluate the potential carcinogenicity of fibres. , 1996, IARC scientific publications.

[52]  J. Everitt,et al.  Comparison of pleural responses of rats and hamsters to subchronic inhalation of refractory ceramic fibers. , 1997, Environmental health perspectives.

[53]  J. Evans,et al.  Studies on the deposition of inhaled fibrous material in the respiratory tract of the rat and its subsequent clearance using radioactive tracer techniques. , 1973, Environmental research.

[54]  N. Herlin‐Boime,et al.  In vitro investigation of oxide nanoparticle and carbon nanotube toxicity and intracellular accumulation in A549 human pneumocytes. , 2008, Toxicology.

[55]  M. Williams,et al.  Asbestos content of lung tissue, lymph nodes, and pleural plaques from former shipyard workers. , 1990, The American review of respiratory disease.

[56]  I. Rahman,et al.  Biomarkers in risk assessment of asbestos exposure. , 2005, Mutation research.

[57]  J. Everitt,et al.  Pleural dosimetry and pathobiological responses in rats and hamsters exposed subchronically to MMVF 10a fiberglass. , 2003, Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology.

[58]  I. Poser,et al.  Effects of asbestos on initiation of DNA damage, induction of DNA-strand breaks, P53-expression and apoptosis in primary, SV40-transformed and malignant human mesothelial cells. , 2004, Mutation research.

[59]  X. Shi,et al.  Enhanced generation of free radicals from phagocytes induced by mineral dusts. , 1992, American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology.

[60]  U. Wirnitzer,et al.  Studies on the in vitro genotoxicity of baytubes, agglomerates of engineered multi-walled carbon-nanotubes (MWCNT). , 2009, Toxicology letters.

[61]  R. Scheule,et al.  Modification of asbestos bioactivity for the alveolar macrophage by selective protein adsorption. , 1990, American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology.

[62]  J. Abel,et al.  Distinct spectrum of mutations induced by crocidolite asbestos: clue for 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine-dependent mutagenesis in vivo. , 2002, Cancer research.

[63]  Samuel Kaski,et al.  Gene expression profiles in asbestos-exposed epithelial and mesothelial lung cell lines , 2007, BMC Genomics.

[64]  M. Prato,et al.  Tissue biodistribution and blood clearance rates of intravenously administered carbon nanotube radiotracers. , 2006, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[65]  Yongjun Li,et al.  Comparative study of pathological lesions induced by multiwalled carbon nanotubes in lungs of mice by intratracheal instillation and inhalation , 2007, Environmental toxicology.

[66]  K. Donaldson,et al.  CELL PEN: A study to identify the physico- chemical factors controlling the capacity of nanoparticles to penetrate cells , 2008 .

[67]  J. Nagy,et al.  Structural defects play a major role in the acute lung toxicity of multiwall carbon nanotubes: physicochemical aspects. , 2008, Chemical research in toxicology.

[68]  D. Scheinberg,et al.  PET Imaging of Soluble Yttrium-86-Labeled Carbon Nanotubes in Mice , 2007, PloS one.

[69]  Jaurand Mc.  Use of in-vitro genotoxicity and cell transformation assays to evaluate the potential carcinogenicity of fibres. , 1996 .

[70]  J Addison,et al.  The pathogenicity of long versus short fibre samples of amosite asbestos administered to rats by inhalation and intraperitoneal injection. , 1986, British journal of experimental pathology.

[71]  P. Wick,et al.  Reviewing the Environmental and Human Health Knowledge Base of Carbon Nanotubes , 2007, Environmental health perspectives.

[72]  Peter Wick,et al.  Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) affect cell physiology and cell architecture , 2008, Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine.

[73]  J. Nagy,et al.  Respiratory toxicity of multi-wall carbon nanotubes. , 2005, Toxicology and applied pharmacology.

[74]  D. Scheinberg,et al.  Tumor Targeting with Antibody-Functionalized, Radiolabeled Carbon Nanotubes , 2007, Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

[75]  M. Jaurand,et al.  Chemical and photoelectron spectrometry analysis of the adsorption of phospholipid model membranes and red blood cell membranes on to chrysotile fibres. , 1980, British journal of industrial medicine.

[76]  R. Aitken,et al.  Carbon nanotubes: a review of their properties in relation to pulmonary toxicology and workplace safety. , 2006, Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology.

[77]  C. Harris,et al.  Asbestos-associated chromosomal changes in human mesothelial cells. , 1985, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[78]  J. Everitt,et al.  Comparison of pulmonary and pleural responses of rats and hamsters to inhaled refractory ceramic fibers. , 1999, Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology.

[79]  S. Ozaki,et al.  Malignant pleural mesothelioma in parts of Japan in relationship to asbestos exposure. , 2004, Industrial health.

[80]  I. Trošić,et al.  Pathways and quantification of insoluble particles in the lung compartments of the rat. , 2000, International journal of hygiene and environmental health.

[81]  P. Baron,et al.  Inhalation vs. aspiration of single-walled carbon nanotubes in C57BL/6 mice: inflammation, fibrosis, oxidative stress, and mutagenesis. , 2008, American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology.

[82]  Mark D. Hoover,et al.  Raw Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Induce Oxidative Stress and Activate MAPKs, AP-1, NF-κB, and Akt in Normal and Malignant Human Mesothelial Cells , 2008, Environmental health perspectives.

[83]  Chao Liu,et al.  Comparative study of cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and genotoxicity induced by four typical nanomaterials: the role of particle size, shape and composition , 2009, Journal of applied toxicology : JAT.

[84]  Jamie R Lead,et al.  Manufactured nanoparticles: an overview of their chemistry, interactions and potential environmental implications. , 2008, The Science of the total environment.

[85]  Günter Oberdörster,et al.  TOXICOKINETICS AND EFFECTS OF FIBROUS AND NONFIBROUS PARTICLES , 2002, Inhalation toxicology.

[86]  M. Jaurand,et al.  DNA breakage in asbestos-treated normal and transformed (TSV40) rat pleural mesothelial cells. , 2000, Mutagenesis.

[87]  V. Castranova,et al.  Re: Induction of mesothelioma in p53+/- mouse by intraperitoneal application of multi-wall carbon nanotube. , 2008, The Journal of toxicological sciences.

[88]  S. Mutsaers,et al.  Mesothelial regeneration is not dependent on subserosal cells , 2000, The Journal of pathology.

[89]  T. Kishimoto.  Cancer due to asbestos exposure. , 1992, Chest.

[90]  J. Ernst,et al.  Phagocytosis of crocidolite asbestos induces oxidative stress, DNA damage, and apoptosis in mesothelial cells. , 2000, American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology.

[91]  A. Kane.  Mechanisms of mineral fibre carcinogenesis. , 1996, IARC scientific publications.

[92]  M. Martinelli,et al.  Microarray analysis and RNA silencing link fra-1 to cd44 and c-met expression in mesothelioma. , 2003, Cancer research.

[93]  A. Cuschieri,et al.  Influence of purity and surface oxidation on cytotoxicity of multiwalled carbon nanotubes with human neuroblastoma cells. , 2009, Nanomedicine : nanotechnology, biology, and medicine.

[94]  D. Sheppard,et al.  Vitronectin enhances internalization of crocidolite asbestos by rabbit pleural mesothelial cells via the integrin alpha v beta 5. , 1995, The Journal of clinical investigation.

[95]  Xiao Zhang,et al.  Biodistribution of functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes in mice. , 2007, Nuclear medicine and biology.

[96]  A Magrini,et al.  Nanomaterials and lung toxicity: interactions with airways cells and relevance for occupational health risk assessment. , 2006, International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology.

[97]  S. Jhanwar,et al.  A mouse model recapitulating molecular features of human mesothelioma. , 2005, Cancer research.

[98]  I. Poser,et al.  Modulation of genotoxic effects in asbestos-exposed primary human mesothelial cells by radical scavengers, metal chelators and a glutathione precursor. , 2004, Mutation research.

[99]  Craig A. Poland,et al.  Re: Induction of mesothelioma in p53+/- mouse by intraperitoneal application of multi-wall carbon nanotube. , 2008, The Journal of toxicological sciences.

[100]  V. Castranova,et al.  Mechanisms of pulmonary toxicity and medical applications of carbon nanotubes: Two faces of Janus? , 2009, Pharmacology & therapeutics.

[101]  I. Emerit.  Reactive oxygen species, chromosome mutation, and cancer: possible role of clastogenic factors in carcinogenesis. , 1994, Free radical biology & medicine.

[102]  Ghislaine Lacroix,et al.  Biodistribution and clearance of instilled carbon nanotubes in rat lung , 2008, Particle and Fibre Toxicology.

[103]  Priyadarshini Pande,et al.  Role of alphavbeta5 integrin receptor in endocytosis of crocidolite and its effect on intracellular glutathione levels in human lung epithelial (A549) cells. , 2006, Toxicology and applied pharmacology.

[104]  J. Wagner,et al.  Diffuse Pleural Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure in the North Western Cape Province , 1960, British journal of industrial medicine.

[105]  G. Laurent,et al.  Evidence for incorporation of free-floating mesothelial cells as a mechanism of serosal healing. , 2002, Journal of cell science.

[106]  A. Churg,et al.  Analysis of the cores of ferruginous (asbestos) bodies from the general population. II. True asbestos bodies and pseudoasbestos bodies. , 1979, Laboratory investigation; a journal of technical methods and pathology.

[107]  C. Harris,et al.  Asbestos-related malignant mesothelioma: growth, cytology, tumorigenicity and consistent chromosome findings in cell lines from five patients. , 1990, Carcinogenesis.

[108]  R. Hamilton,et al.  Differential binding of inorganic particles to MARCO. , 2009, Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology.

[109]  Scott E McNeil,et al.  Nanotechnology safety concerns revisited. , 2008, Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology.

[110]  M. Jaurand,et al.  Chromosomal changes induced by chrysotile fibres or benzo-3,4-pyrene in rat pleural mesothelial cells. , 1986, Mutation research.

[111]  I. Adamson,et al.  KGF and HGF are growth factors for mesothelial cells in pleural lavage fluid after intratracheal asbestos. , 2001, Experimental Lung Research.

[112]  H. Pass,et al.  Alterations in gene expression in human mesothelial cells correlate with mineral pathogenicity. , 2009, American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology.

[113]  P De Vuyst,et al.  Erionite bodies and fibres in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of residents from Tuzköy, Cappadocia, Turkey , 2001, Occupational and environmental medicine.

[114]  A. Morgan.  Deposition of inhaled asbestos and man-made mineral fibres in the respiratory tract. , 1995, The Annals of occupational hygiene.

[115]  V. Castranova,et al.  Cross-talk between lung and systemic circulation during carbon nanotube respiratory exposure. Potential biomarkers. , 2009, Nano letters.

[116]  S. Sahn,et al.  Pleural Cell Biology in Health and Disease , 1992 .

[117]  Seishiro Hirano,et al.  Multi-walled carbon nanotubes injure the plasma membrane of macrophages. , 2008, Toxicology and applied pharmacology.

[118]  O. Dikensoy.  Mesothelioma due to environmental exposure to erionite in Turkey , 2008, Current opinion in pulmonary medicine.

[119]  Eun‐Kee Park,et al.  Asbestos-related occupational lung diseases in NSW, Australia and potential exposure of the general population. , 2008, Industrial health.

[120]  D. Kamp,et al.  Asbestos-Induced Pulmonary Toxicity: Role of DNA Damage and Apoptosis , 2003, Experimental biology and medicine.

[121]  F. Galateau-Sallé,et al.  The French National Mesothelioma Surveillance Program , 2006, Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

[122]  K. Pelin,et al.  Cytogenetic response to asbestos fibers in cultured human primary mesothelial cells from 10 different donors. , 1995, Mutation research.

[123]  P. de Vuyst,et al.  Black spots concentrate oncogenic asbestos fibers in the parietal pleura. Thoracoscopic and mineralogic study. , 1996, American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine.

[124]  Craig A. Poland,et al.  Carbon nanotubes introduced into the abdominal cavity of mice show asbestos-like pathogenicity in a pilot study. , 2008, Nature nanotechnology.

[125]  E. Gaensler,et al.  Asbestos or ferruginous bodies. , 1969, The New England journal of medicine.

[126]  P. de Vuyst,et al.  `Black Spots' and Hyaline Pleural Plaques on the Parietal Pleura of 150 Urban Necropsy Cases , 2002, The American journal of surgical pathology.

[127]  J. Kanno,et al.  Induction of mesothelioma in p53+/- mouse by intraperitoneal application of multi-wall carbon nanotube. , 2008, The Journal of toxicological sciences.

[128]  E Chellini,et al.  Characterization of asbestos fibers in pleural tissue from 21 cases of mesothelioma. , 1993, La Medicina del lavoro.

[129]  A. Tossavainen,et al.  Retention of asbestos fibers in the human body. , 1994, Environmental health perspectives.

[130]  I. Y. R. Adamson, J. Bakowska.  KGF AND HGF ARE GROWTH FACTORS FOR MESOTHELIAL CELLS IN PLEURAL LAVAGE FLUID AFTER INTRATRACHEAL ASBESTOS , 2001 .

[131]  R Tantra,et al.  (HARN) should raise the same concerns as do asbestos fibres , 2008 .

[132]  L. Simonato,et al.  Epidemiological and environmental evidence of the health effects of exposure to erionite fibres: A four‐year study in the cappadocian region of turkey , 1987, International journal of cancer.

[133]  K. Donaldson,et al.  Inflammation generating potential of long and short fibre amosite asbestos samples. , 1989, British journal of industrial medicine.

[134]  Dong Yang,et al.  Pilot study of targeting magnetic carbon nanotubes to lymph nodes. , 2009, Nanomedicine.

[135]  Pietro Comba,et al.  Pleural Mesothelioma Cases in Biancavilla are Related to a New Fluoro-Edenite Fibrous Amphibole , 2003, Archives of environmental health.