Immunotoxicity and genotoxicity of single-walled carbon nanotubes co-exposed with cadmium in the freshwater mussel, Elliptio complanata

Abstract : Potential immunotoxicity and genotoxicity of as-produced and purified single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT, 500 μg L-¹) with or without cadmium (20 μg L-¹) was investigated in hemocytes of the freshwater mussel, Elliptio complanata. Our results showed a decrease in hemocyte viability after 3, and 8 days of exposure and an increase of hemocyte phagocytic efficiency for organisms exposed to Cd. No modification of the cyclo-oxygenase (COX) activity was measured. An increase in DNA damage was measured after 1 day of exposure to Cd and a potentiating effect of combined exposures was observed.