In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Transforming Potential of Industrial Carbon Dust (Fibers and Particles) in Syrian Hamster Embryo (SHE) Cells

• Published in: The Annals of occupational hygiene 2010-07, Vol.54 (5), p.532-544
• Main Authors: Darne, C., Terzetti, F., Coulais, C., Fournier, J., Guichard, Y., Gaté, L., Binet, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - toxicity; Air Pollutants, Occupational - toxicity; Aluminum Oxide - pharmacology; Animals; Asbestos, Serpentine - toxicity; Aviation; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon - toxicity; carbon fibers; carbon particles; Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens; Catalysis; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Chemical agents; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Chemical Sciences; Cricetinae; cytotoxicity; Cytotoxins - toxicity; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Dust; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Embryo, Mammalian; Environmental Monitoring - methods; In Vitro Techniques; Inorganic dusts (pneumoconiosises) and organic dusts (byssinosis etc.); Lethal Dose 50; Medical sciences; Mesocricetus; Mineral Fibers; Particle Size; peroxidation; reactive oxygen species; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; SHE cell transformation; Toxicology; Tumors
• ISSN: 0003-4878; 1475-3162; 1475-3162
• DOI: 10.1093/annhyg/meq012

Carbon fibers have many applications, mainly in high-tech industries such as the aviation industry. Eleven carbon samples (fibers and particles) coming from an aeronautic group were tested for their cytotoxicity and carcinogenic potential using in vitro short-term assays in Syrian hamster embryo cells. These samples were taken during each important step of the process, i.e. from the initial heating of polyacrylonitrile fibers to pure carbon fibers. They were compared to an asbestos fiber, an amorphous silica, and two commercial graphite powders. Their physical–chemical characteristics and their capacity to release reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined. This study showed that none of the carbon samples was able to generate ROS as measured by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance analysis, and in our biological assays, they demonstrated no morphological transformation potential and low cytotoxicity compared to positive control (chrysotile asbestos).