We're going to use carbon nanotubes (both single and multi walled) in our experimental research.
Is there any risk to health from the nanotubes?
What are the safety measures?
The attached files will provide you detailed information including safety measures.
Carbon nanotubes can also be unsafe for oral intake. That is notably valid for low doses, in the case of nanotubes fragments rather than their aggregates.
The results of our studies and reviews of the toxicity of carbon nanotubes you may found in project https://www.researchgate.net/project/Experimental-identification-of-the-molecular-mechanisms-of-the-biological-action-and-the-toxic-effects-of-carbon-nanomaterials-SWCNT-MWCNT-fullerene-derivatives-using-proteomic-metabolomic-and-cel
Dear All,
Thank you so much for your valuable answers.
Do I understand correctly that multi walled CNTs are much more dangerous than single walled CNTs?
Our dealer of SWCNT assures us that their tubes are virtually harmless, as they are very flexible, unlike MWCNT.
Should we take it with a grain of salt?
The toxicity of nanotubes is mainly mediated by residual amounts of catalysts used in their production, as well as their pro-oxidant activity in biological media. Flexibility in this case doesn't matter. Therefore, I think, it will be better if you take it with a grain of salt.
Dear Arvind K. Bhakta,
Thanks for the link. Do you happen to have a pdf?
Yes they do pose health risk as per available researches. In your experiment you can use respiratory mask to reduce the risk.
Inhaling carbon nanotubes could be as harmful as breathing in asbestos, and its use should be regulated lest it lead to the same cancer and breathing problems that prompted a ban on the use of asbestos as insulation in buildings, according a new study posted online today by Nature Nanotechnology.
Dear Profs Kumar and Khaoula,
Thank you very much for this useful information.
There's not just the fiber aspect, there is also a carcinogene part. Some nanotubes can penetrate cell walls (which can actually be used for "biological solar cells", by the way) or interfere with DNA, check out:
Article DNA damaging properties of single walled carbon nanotubes in...
and references therein.
Of course it strongly depends on how you process them. If you don't solubilize them in your desired process, of course your blood stream can't transport them.
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