Before asbestos was classified as a pathogen and a menace to thelungs of those chronically exposed to the substance, many buildersand manufacturers embraced the “wonder” material for years. Becauseof its heat-conducting properties, strength, and other qualities,long carbon nanotubes could be progressing down a similar path, interms of widespread usage. Despite the structures' burgeoningpopularity and immense promise, however, some speculate that theycould possess a fatal flaw: asbestos-like toxicity.

In fact, a recent report published in Nature Nanotechnology hasraised some eyebrows regarding the safety of longer strands ofcarbon nanotubes in an array of applications. Below is an excerptfrom the letter, which draws upon research conducted by Britishinstitutes and the U.S.-based Project on EmergingNanotechnologies.

“Carbon nanotubes have distinctive characteristics, but theirneedle-like fiber shapes have been compared to asbestos, raisingconcerns that widespread use of carbon nanotubes may lead tomesothelioma, cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by exposureto asbestos.”

In the pilot study, the researchers injected carbon nanotubesinto the abdominal cavities of mice and then documented theresults. A close examination of the lining of the abdominalcavities revealed that the nanotubes caused inflammation akin toasbestos exposure. In addition, there was evidence of “theformation of lesions known as granulomas.”

Whether the structures pose a detriment is debatable, and it ispremature to dub nanotubes as “the next asbestos.” The generalconsensus is that this is a topic that warrants further research.In the published letter, the researchers urged companies to“exercise great caution before introducing carbon nanotube-basedproducts into the market if long-term harm is to be avoided.”