Thread: Carbon Nano-tube and the effect on the body.

I was just wondering, carbon nanotubes are similar to asbestos. What would the effect of carbon nanotubes be on the human body (lungs and bloodcells)

Also, don't(didnt) they use catalytic converters to create carbon nanotubes *yes, they same part in a car to reduce carbon emissions*

http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/....2008.111.html

Some research suggests similarities between carbon nanotubes and asbestos..

Carbon?!
did someone say carbon? here i am!

I'm sure it depends on where they are in the body, how big they are, etc.

The hazard of asbestos, silica, and other sub-micron irritants is overrated IMO.

These tiny floating particles are a problem, first because they don't fall to the ground but rather drift about until somebody inhales them. They lodge in the lungs, which grow a kind of scar around the irritant.

That sounds damning, but remember beach sand is silica and we are built to cope with moderate exposure to such irritants. They don't become a real hazard until we're actually standing in a haze of the stuff, which normally does happen when we're grinding or cutting certain building materials. That kind of dust is insidious: it binds to the hairs, gets into the pores, fabrics sponge it up, it's so fine. It leaves a taste in the mouth that won't go away. Then one is short of breath for some days. But I'm talking about thickly palpable doses. The exposure levels consumers and homeowners might get at worst are nothing of the kind.

So if carbon nanotube is similar to asbestos, you won't earn significant exposure unless you work at it.