Study finds certain types of carbon nanotubes can induce asbestos-like responses

Safe Work Australia has released a new research report on durability of carbon nanotubes and their potential to cause inflammation, two indicators of potential asbestos-like behaviour, if inhaled.

The report's key findings include:

• Some types of carbon nanotubes can be durable, but others may also break down in simulated lung fluid.
• Carbon nanotubes of certain length and aspect ratio can induce asbestos-like responses in mice, confirming previous findings. However, this response may be reduced if the nanotubes are less durable.
• Tightly agglomerated particle-like bundles of carbon nanotubes did not cause an inflammatory response in mice.

Shorter carbon nanotubes or bundles of carbon nanotubes may not be an asbestos-like hazard, but they can still cause an inflammatory response and be hazardous in the lungs. “These results indicate that durability and hazards of all types of carbon nanotubes are not necessarily the same. However, carbon nanotubes should be handled with high levels of caution in the workplace to avoid inhalation.” Carbon nanotubes can be durable but may also be subject to bio-modification in a sample-specific manner, according to the report.

Commissioned under the Nanotechnology Work Health and Safety Program and funded by the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the University of Edinburgh in UK, and the UK Institute of Occupational Medicine undertook this experimental research.

The research report can be found at: http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/AboutSafeWorkAustralia/WhatWeDo/Publications/Pages/QuickSearchResults.aspx?PublicationType=Research%20reports.