A team of Triangle-area scientists has published a research paper describing changes to lungs in mice exposed to six hours of inhaled carbon nanotubes, though the researchers said it's too soon to know whether those changes represent a health threat.
Carbon nanotubes are being considered for use in everything from sports equipment to medical applications, but a great deal remains unknown about whether these materials cause respiratory or other health problems.
The newly published collaborative study from North Carolina State University, The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences shows that inhaling these nanotubes can affect the outer lining of the lung, called the pleura.
Pleural tissues were targeted for the research because they're prone to developing the cancer mesothelioma when exposed to certain types of asbestos fibers.
The study, "Inhaled Carbon Nanotubes Reach the Sub-Pleural Tissue in Mice," was published in the October issue of Nature Nanotechnology.
Some 150 invited guests gathered earlier this month at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center for the 2009 Summit on Environmentally Responsible Development of Nanotechnology, hosted by the Research Triangle Environmental Health Collaborative.
Experts from around the world exchanged hopes and concerns that can inform policy and practice for the safe and efficient development of nanotech.