The myth about toxicity of pure fullerenes is irreversibly destroyed

G. Andrievsky1, L. Derevyanchenko2, and V. Klochkov1¬
1STC "Institute for Single Crystals" NAS, 61001 Kharkov, Ukraine
2Institute for Therapy AMS, 61039 Kharkov, Ukraine

In our report we present the facts which were the reason for erroneous conclusions about high toxicity of water nanodispersions of pristine fullerenes and which in 2004-2005 have intimidated the world with some toxic properties of fullerenes [1-7] that continues to mislead still both the scientific world and the public.

Scrupulous analysis of such facts testifies that authors who have discovered 'special' toxic properties of C60 fullerenes, actually investigated the biological activity of both crystal-solvated forms of pristine C60 which contained toxic molecules of organic solvent (THF) and/or products catalytic degradations of the last as well as chemically modified (oxidized) C60 nanoparicles, but not pure fullerenes [7-16].

The criticism of hasty conclusions about fullerenes toxicity [8,11] stimulated new investigations, which have in essence denied previous statements about danger of fullerenes for living organisms and an environment [12-16] .

Moreover, investigating pure fullerenes and their aqueous nanodispersions in the course of more than 12 years, we are constantly observing the unique and only positive effects of their biological activity [8 and http://fullwater.com.ua] that finds the strict confirmations in works made previously and now by other independent experts in fullerene sciences [11, 16-19].

As a whole, pristine fullerenes do not constitute a few danger for living organisms, including the hazardous influence on environmental, and it is recommended to handle pure fullerenes in the same way as with usual carbon black.