Fig. 5

Number of neutrophils (a) and eosinophils (b) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid 1, 3, 28 days and 3 months after exposure to GaP NWs, carbon black Printex 90 (CB) or MWCNT Mitsui-7. Dot plot with mean ± standard error of the mean. Sample size: n = 5 for 0 µg GaP NW pilot; n = 3 for 10 µg GaP NW pilot; n = 6 for 0, 6, 18 µg GaP NW and 162 µg carbon black; n = 7–9 for 0 µg MWCNT; n = 7 for 6, 18 and 54 µg MWCNT. Statistical significance compared to controls *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. (c, d) Linear regression analyses of the total surface area of the pulmonary deposited NWs as predictor of neutrophil influx at day 1 and day 3 post-exposure