May 20, 2008

scientists comment on research into carbon nanotubes, as published in Nature Nanotechnology

The authors of the research conducted a pilot study to investigate the effects of introducing carbon nanotubes into the abdominal cavity of mice, and came to the Science Media Centre to announce their findings.

See details of the press briefing here

The British Lung Foundation, in a statement, said:

“This study shows some carbon nanotubes behave like asbestos fibres when they are introduced into the abdomen of mice and that there is therefore a potential link between these carbon molecular structures and the asbestos cancer mesothelioma,” says Dr Noemi Eiser, Medical Director at the British Lung Foundation. “At present this link is not clear, or proven, but it is imperative that the questions raised by this research are answered before the commercial use of long carbon nanotubes becomes widespread. Mesothelioma is a devastating cancer for which there is no cure and the time between diagnosis and death is short. The UK is already facing an epidemic of Mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos several decades ago and we must be vigilant about preventing future exposure.”

Prof Mark Welland, Professor of Nanotechnology, University of Cambridge, said:

“I welcome this valuable research that represents a part of the growing scientific literature into exploring the potential toxicology of nanoparticles of various shapes, sizes and compositions. As expected, this particular study shows that carbon nanotubes of particular length and size, similar to that of asbestos, may be harmful if inhaled. It therefore neither affects the majority of nano-products nor products after manufacture where nanotubes are embedded within the product.”

Prof Richard A.L. Jones FRS, EPSRC Professorial Fellow and Senior Strategic Advisor for Nanotechnology, University of Sheffield, said:

“Up to now, there’s been considerable uncertainty about the hazards that carbon nanotubes might pose. This research starts to clarify the issue; not all nanotubes are equal when it comes to potential toxicity, and now we know that it is the longest tubes that are most likely to cause problems. Nanotubes are generally used, not in their free form, but incorporated in other materials like plastics, and if workers, the public and the environment aren’t to be put at risk we need to make sure that dangerous numbers of free nanotubes can’t be released in manufacture, use or after disposal of products containing them.”

Prof Mike Horton, Director of Life Sciences, London Centre for Nanotechnology at University College London, said:

“The question as to whether ‘long’ carbon nanotubes behave in a similar manner to asbestos and other disease-producing fibres to produce tissue damage is important but complex. The work of Donaldson et al. suggests that there are similarities in the early inflammatory response to the two materials, but much more work will be required to provide definitive proof one way or another and to show if the same effects are seen if particles are inhaled and whether exposure levels reach the threshold for the development of cancer (mesothelioma). Their study indicates that there is a need to develop and apply methods to test nanomaterials for potential toxicity and to detect and measure environmental exposure.”