Just a few years ago, carbon nanotubes were front and center of discussions around the safety of engineered nanomaterials. These days, not so much. So what happened? Did we do the science and discover that they're just as safe as any other form of carbon? Or did they simply slip off the safety radar? In this month's edition of the Journal Nature Nanotechnology, I take a look at where the state of the science is. And the verdict? Used responsibly, the health risks of carbon nanotubes can be reduced. But this remains a material that could cause substantial problems in the wrong hands. The article can be accessed in full from the link below if you are in the US (if you hit a paywall and would like to read it, let me know). Are we ready for spray-on carbon nanotubes? As artists and manufacturers explore the use of spray-on carbon nanotube coatings, Andrew D. Maynard explores the state of the science around nanotube safety. Nature Nanotechnology 11, 490-491, 2016. DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2016.99 From the article: "[in 2015] Gu=CC=88nter Oberdo=CC=88rster and co-authors published what is possibly the most comprehensive review of carbon nanotube toxicology studies to date. Focusing on inhalation of nanotubes, they document evidence of transient pulmonary inflammation, and rapid and persistent development of granulomatous lesions and interstitial fibrosis on exposure to single- and multiwalled carbon nanotubesin rodents. They cite data indicating that inhaled long and thin multiwalled carbon nanotubes can move to the lining surrounding the lungs and penetrate it, where they can potentially cause mesothelioma. Furthermore, the authors indicate that carbon nanotubes can act as a cancer promoter - with inhalation increasing the probability of developing lung cancer from exposure to other carcinogens." There's a lot more in the article, but the bottom line is that the current sate of the science indicates that, if
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