The effect of carbon fiber after 1 month instillation on mouse

Gifu Prefecture and Gifu University are developing technologies for recycling used carbon fiber because the waste disposal process is highly cost and energy intensive. However, generation of carbon fiber dust during the recycling process is a serious issue, especially in the occupational environment. Recycling requires carbonization by partial firing treatment at 500℃ followed by firing treatment at 440℃: these processes produce dust as a by-product. In this study, three types of carbon fibers; before recycling, after carbonization, and after firing were evaluated for their toxic effects on mice. It is important to study the influence of carbon fibers on human health at a gene expression level. Stress induced gene expression in mouse lung was measured at 1 month after exposure to doses of 200 µg/ mouse carbon fiber by intratracheal administeration. Series contains at least three hybridization results from independent biological samples respectively in four injection conditions (Condition 1. carbon fiber before recycled (VCF), 2. carbon fiber after carbonization (CCF), 3. carbon fiber after firing (RCF), 4. PBS vehicle control).