Abstract
The present paper summarizes the data available in the literature concerning genotoxicity of fullerenes and their derivatives, which are widely used in consumer products such as cosmetic, lubricants, sporting goods, building materials, clothing treatment, electronics and fuel cells. All data in this review were previously published in openly available scientific literature. Genotoxicity studies, including iin vitro and iiin vivo assays, are available. Positive results were observed on in vitro comet assay, gene mutation assay using bacteria and transgenic mouse embryonic cells, and micronucleus assay, and on iiin vivo oxidatively damaged DNA assay and gpt gene mutation assay, whereas negative results were also demonstrated on iin vivo comet assay, bacterial gene mutation assay, mammalian chromosomal aberration assay and micronucleus assay, and on iin vivo comet assay and micronucleus assay. Some studies suggest that the genotoxicity of fullerenes and their derivatives results from pro-oxidative responses. A battery of standard genotoxicity testing methods covering a wide range of mechanisms is useful to clarify the genotoxicity of fullerenes and their derivatives. Further studies, especially in vivo, using relevant routes of exposure and concentrations closely reflecting expected levels of human exposure are needed.
