Assessment of the potential in vivo ecotoxicity of Double-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (DWNTs) in water, using the amphibian Ambystoma mexicanum

Figures & data

Figure 1.  FEG-SEM (Field Emission Gun – Scanning Electron Microscopy) image of raw CCVD (Catalytic Chemical Vapour Decomposition) sample.

Figure 2.  High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy image of double-walled carbon nanotubes after elimination of the catalyst.

Figure 3.  Results of mortality in larvae exposed to CNTs (mg.l⁻¹) for 12 days in Experiments I and II. NC, negative control; PC, positive control (cyclophosphamide, CP 2 mg.l⁻¹); n.e., non explored concentration; CNTs, carbon nanotubes. Mortality is expressed as the percentage of survival larvae (n=5 in Experiment I; n=13 in Experiment II). No mortality was observed in Ambystoma larvae exposed to CNTs, whatever the concentration and the experiment.

Figure 4.  Results of the micronucleus assay in larvae exposed to CNTs (g.l⁻¹) for 12 days in Experiment II. NC, negative control; PC, positive control (cyclophosphamide, CP 2 mg.l⁻¹); CNTs, carbon nanotubes; Genotoxicity is expressed as the values of the medians (number of micronucleated erythrocytes per thousand, MNE°/_oo) and their 95% confidence limits. No genotoxic effects were observed in Ambystoma larvae exposed to 0.5 and 1 g.l⁻¹ of CNTs.