Bergamaschi Enrico, Garzaro Giacomo, Wilson Jones Georgia, Buglisi Martina, Caniglia Michele, Godono Alessandro, Bosio Davide, Fenoglio Ivana, Guseva Canu Irina
Unit of Occupational Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Via Zuretti 29, 10126 Torino, Italy.
Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, Italy.
Nanomaterials (Basel). 2021 Mar 16;11(3):745. doi: 10.3390/nano11030745.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are erroneously considered as singular material entities. Instead, they should be regarded as a heterogeneous class of materials bearing different properties eliciting particular biological outcomes both in vitro and in vivo. Given the pace at which the industrial production of CNTs/CNFs is increasing, it is becoming of utmost importance to acquire comprehensive knowledge regarding their biological activity and their hazardous effects in humans. Animal studies carried out by inhalation showed that some CNTs/CNFs species can cause deleterious effects such as inflammation and lung tissue remodeling. Their physico-chemical properties, biological behavior and biopersistence make them similar to asbestos fibers. Human studies suggest some mild effects in workers handling CNTs/CNFs. However, owing to their cross-sectional design, researchers have been as yet unable to firmly demonstrate a causal relationship between such an exposure and the observed effects. Estimation of acceptable exposure levels should warrant a proper risk management. The aim of this review is to challenge the conception of CNTs/CNFs as a single, unified material entity and prompt the establishment of standardized hazard and exposure assessment methodologies able to properly feed risk assessment and management frameworks.
碳纳米管（CNTs）和碳纳米纤维（CNFs）被错误地视为单一的材料实体。相反，它们应被视为一类具有不同特性的异质材料，在体外和体内都会引发特定的生物学结果。鉴于碳纳米管/碳纳米纤维的工业生产正在加速增长，全面了解它们的生物活性及其对人类的有害影响变得至关重要。通过吸入进行的动物研究表明，某些碳纳米管/碳纳米纤维种类可导致诸如炎症和肺组织重塑等有害影响。它们的物理化学性质、生物学行为和生物持久性使它们类似于石棉纤维。人体研究表明，接触碳纳米管/碳纳米纤维的工人会出现一些轻微影响。然而，由于其横断面设计，研究人员尚未能够确凿地证明这种接触与所观察到的影响之间存在因果关系。对可接受接触水平的估计应确保进行适当的风险管理。本综述的目的是挑战将碳纳米管/碳纳米纤维视为单一、统一材料实体的观念，并促使建立标准化的危害和接触评估方法，以便为风险评估和管理框架提供适当的依据。
