Dietary toxicity of single-walled carbon nanotubes and fullerenes (C-60) in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The objective of this investigation was to compare the toxicity of two manufactured carbon nanomaterials (CNs) to determine if shape influenced toxicity. Juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss were fed a control diet (no CN addition), or a diet supplemented with 500 mg single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) kg(-1) or 500 mg C-60 kg(-1) for six weeks. Fish growth, haematology, tissue ion concentrations, histopathology, osmoregulation, and biochemistry were evaluated. At week 4, but not on weeks 2 and 6, significant elevation in brain TBARS (an indication of lipid peroxidation) was observed in fish exposed to SWCNTs (16.2 +/- 1.38 nmol mg(-1) protein) compared to the control (9.11 +/- 0.81 nmol mg(-1) protein) and fish exposed to C-60 (8.28 +/- 0.56 nmol mg(-1) protein). No other significant treatment-related differences were observed. Results indicate that dietary exposure to SWCNTs and C-60 in rainbow trout did not result in overt toxicity.