A Review of Carbon Nanotube Toxicity and Assessment of Potential Occupational and Environmental Health Risks
Authors: Lam, Chiu-wing1; James, John2; McCluskey, Richard3; Arepalli, Sivaram2; Hunter, Robert1
Source: Critical Reviews in Toxicology, Volume 36, Number 3, May-June 2006 , pp. 189-217(29)
Publisher: Informa Healthcare
Abstract:
Nanotechnology has emerged at the forefront of science research and technology development. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are major building blocks of this new technology. They possess unique electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties, with potential wide applications in the electronics, computer, aerospace, and other industries. CNTs exist in two forms, single-wall (SWCNTs) and multi-wall (MWCNTs). They are manufactured predominately by electrical arc discharge, laser ablation and chemical vapor deposition processes; these processes involve thermally stripping carbon atoms off from carbon-bearing compounds. SWCNT formation requires catalytic metals. There has been a great concern that if CNTs, which are very light, enter the working environment as suspended particulate matter (PM) of respirable sizes, they could pose an occupational inhalation exposure hazard. Very recently, MWCNTs and other carbonaceous nanoparticles in fine (Keywords: Cardiopulmonary Diseases; Fibrosis; Fullerenes; Granulomas; Intratracheal Instillation; Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes; Nanomaterials; Nanotechnology; Natural Gas Combustion; Particulate Matter; PM2.5; Pulmonary Toxicity; Risk Assessment; Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1080/10408440600570233
Affiliations: 1: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA 2: JSC Toxicology Group, Space Life Sciences, NASA Johnson Space Center, Wyle Laboratories, Houston, Texas, USA 3: Medical Operations Branch, Space Life Sciences, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, USA

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