Carbon Nanotubes May Present a Cancer Risk

New study suggests that workers developing some common forms of nanotechnology may be exposed to health risks

By Gregory Mone Posted 05.21.2008 at 7:02 am 5 Comments

Carbon Nanotube Rice University

If inhaled, certain kinds of carbon nanotubes - the tiny technology used in a wide variety of applications - could increase an individual's risk of cancer, according to scientists. Researchers injected mice with nanotubes, and found that the super-strong fibers created the same sort of problems as asbestos.

Currently, nanotubes are used in common products such as bike parts and computer displays. But the potential applications are wide-ranging, and this is hardly the end of the technology. Scientists have suspected for a while that nanotubes could have these effects, and experts say the new finding isn't exactly cause for alarm. There appears to be little risk to consumers, and one nanotech business representative pointed out to the LA Times that many factories already have guidelines in place to present overexposure. For example, workers are usually required to wear respirators. Studies like this one will, hopefully, only strengthen those regulations - maybe that "usually" will become an "always".

The work is published in the most recent issue of Nature Nanotechnology.

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5 Comments

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redwarrior

05/22/08 at 8:33 pm

how is it causing cancer? As far as i know cancer is caused by cell mutation, and nanotubes are supposed to be one of the hardest things out there right?

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aaders

05/22/08 at 9:19 pm

This is a major risk. Carbon fibers (like asbestos) are inhaled and cut/imbed themselves into your lung tissue. This creates scar tissue that results in mesothelioma, which has no known survivors. Kinda weird we haven't heard about this and yet it is in everyday products. Especially considering how asbestos is treated these days...

And how could a respirator stop nano-particles?? are these people using nano-respirators?? doubt it

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murderdolls

07/27/08 at 7:13 am

how is it causing cancer?

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murderdolls

08/02/08 at 6:59 pm

power i wonder what kind Yılan yağı
not only is this just cool but all the amputies coming from war will now(soon) have a normal life. Kargo 1 out of 1 people found this comment helpful Cargo second is Lida power i wonder what kind of battery pack it requires to run one of those

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Shannon10

08/16/08 at 12:47 pm

My opinion on the cancer, which opinions mean nothing without approval/thesis,

Are that the reason that cancer is formed, is from Carbon Monoxide [Co2] And that being, that carbon is the main culprit.

I mean, Lung Cancer, Can't have Carbon monoxide without breathing, which when you inhale smoke from the cigarette you just puffed, you're limiting your breathing capacity.

For instance, say I was a normal man breathing, just inhaling oxygen and breathing out carbon monoxide.

And a man beside me was breathing Carbon Monoxide, and Inhaling Carbon Monoxide and taking a puff of a cigarette every 20 seconds.. Thats a Quarter of a minute lost of breathing, and so then.. After losing that minute of breathing, still does it, Loses a half..

He then feels a buzz of the cigarette because of the carbon monoxide filling the lungs, as if a house fire.

That is why I think Carbon Monoxide is the killer cause of Cancers.
because if we inhale so much it's the same as a house fire.