Clarification of the potential for aqueous fullerene nanoscale aggregates (nC60) to generate reactive oxygen species and cause toxicity in fish

Published

June 28, 2011

Author(s)

Theordore Henry, Elijah Petersen, Robert Compton

Abstract

This review aims to clarify inconsistencies in previous reports regarding the potential for aqueous nanoscale aggregates of fullerenes (nC60) to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cause toxicity in fish. Methods for evaluation of ROS production and toxicity of aqueous nC60 have evolved over time and limitations in initial studies have led to unintentional erroneous reports of nC60 ROS generation and toxicity. Current evidence indicates that aqueous nC60 have minimal potential to produce ROS and that oxidative stress in fish is not induced by exposure to nC60. Future studies should acknowledge that current evidence indicates low toxicity of nC60 and discontinue citing articles that attribute toxicity in fish to nC60 based on methods shown to be compromised by experimental artifacts.. Despite low toxicity of nC60 in fish, an emerging environmental issue is that nC60 can affect environmental fate, transport, and bioavailability of co-contaminants in aquatic environments in a similar manner to that observed for other anthropogenic particulates (e.g., microplastics).

Citation

Current Opinion in Biotechnology

Pub Type

Journals

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Citation

Henry, T. , Petersen, E. and Compton, R. (2011), Clarification of the potential for aqueous fullerene nanoscale aggregates (nC60) to generate reactive oxygen species and cause toxicity in fish, Current Opinion in Biotechnology, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=907705 (Accessed October 16, 2025)