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| Hi-tech fibres could be 'the new asbestos' | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 15 2009, 12:39 PM (60 Views) | |
| Warren | Feb 15 2009, 12:39 PM Post #1 |
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Hi-tech fibres could be 'the new asbestos' From correspondents in Edinburgh May 22, 2008 02:49am Article from: Herald Sun TINY hi-tech carbon fibres used in products ranging from sporting equipment to new drugs could be the new asbestos, scientists fear. Some carbon nanotubes have been found to behave like asbestos, raising fears they could cause the deadly lung cancer mesothelioma. The lightweight building blocks, 100 times stronger than steel, could be dangerous if inhaled in sufficient quantities, US and UK researchers found. Nanotechnology deals with particles 50,000 times thinner than a human hair. Researchers led by Prof Ken Donaldson, of Edinburgh University, injected carbon nanotubes into mice stomach cavities. Like asbestos, the long, straight fibres were found to cause inflammation and lesions that could lead to cancer. "The results were clear. Long, thin carbon nanotubes showed the same effect as long, thin asbestos fibres," Prof Donaldson said. Asbestos fibres are thin enough to penetrate deep into lungs and are too long to be caught by the body's defence mechanisms. Mesothelioma can take up to 40 years to develop after exposure. Carbon nanotubes, discovered almost 20 years ago, are just a couple of millionths of a millimetre thick. The study, published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, found shorter or curly nanotubes did not have the same effect, suggesting the materials can be used safely. The researchers said it was not yet clear if carbon nanotubes could become airborne and inhaled, but authorities and the industry should err on the side of caution. |
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