Activation of aerial oxygen to superoxide radical by carbon nanotubes in indoor spider web trapped aerosol

摘要

Domestic spider webs trap partly burnt combustion contaminants in indoor floating aerosols. These are shown to possess defective carbon nanotube particulates containing very stable carbon centred free radical. When inhaled the carbon radical readily activates aerial oxygen to superoxide radical, thus demonstrating the possibility of spontaneous intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species in intact cells.