| Mesothelioma has long been linked to the | | | | * automobile |
| inhalation and exposure to asbestos fibers | | | | |
| and dust, so when scientists uncovered an | | | | * airplanes |
| additional potential cause for this incurable | | | | |
| form of lung cancer, the unthinkable became a | | | | * television box productions |
| reality. | | | | |
| | | | * medical |
| According to researchers based out of the | | | | |
| Woodrow Wilson International Centre for | | | | * environmental uses |
| Scholars in Washington D.C., the early 90's | | | | |
| development of carbon nanotubes has been an | | | | Working with Nanotubes |
| amazing feat for technological applications, | | | | |
| however, it has not gone without its price. | | | | While the National Institute for Occupational |
| Specifically, carbon nanotubes may be causing | | | | Safety and Health (NIOSH) is doing research |
| harm to the human body in the form of | | | | on nanotoxicology, there is little knowledge |
| mesothelioma cancer. | | | | or research currently available regarding the |
| | | | safety of using nanotechnology. Additionally, |
| If the carbon nanotubes are introduced into | | | | Dr. Maynard noted that because of the |
| the wrong environment, the development of | | | | ever-increasing nanotechnology industry, |
| lesions and inflammation of the lungs occurs | | | | which is likely to be worth $2.6 trillion by |
| - symptoms similar to that of mesothelioma | | | | 2014, it will be difficult to adequately and |
| cancer and asbestos exposure. Researchers | | | | accurately assess nanotechnology safety |
| uncovered the finding through exposure of | | | | because of the technology's quick growth, |
| carbon nanotubes to animals. | | | | which is also being used in the food |
| | | | industry. |
| Dr. Andrew Maynard, who published a study in | | | | |
| the journal Nature Nanotechnology, described | | | | Transparency of nanotoxicology among some |
| the use of nanotubes and the potential link | | | | nanotechnologically-produced products may |
| to mesothelioma cancer. He said that | | | | fall into the hands of manufacturers and |
| currently, nanotubes are being implemented | | | | producers, which John M. Balbus, health |
| because of their awesome abilities at | | | | program chief for the Environmental Defense |
| conducting heat and electricity. Mostly, Dr. | | | | Fund who was interviewed in a Washington Post |
| Maynard explains, the nanotubes are being | | | | article on nanotechnology, said could either |
| implemented into sports equipment. He said | | | | be a very good thing with open |
| that there are no regulations as to where | | | | communications, or a very bad thing |
| nanotubes can be implemented and there are | | | | replicating the mistakes made among the |
| currently no requirements for the use of | | | | construction industry's use of asbestos. |
| nanotubes to be disclosed to the general | | | | However, he noted that upfront communication |
| public. | | | | regarding the dangers of nanotechnology with |
| | | | the public may increase because of the |
| What Are Nanotubes? | | | | previous mistakes made by other industries in |
| | | | hiding mesothelioma conditions from the |
| According to Maynard, nanotubes are a product | | | | public. |
| of nanotechnology research, one he considers | | | | |
| the "poster child" of nanotechnology. The | | | | Finding Help with Nanotube Related |
| nanotubes are cylindrical structures | | | | Mesothelioma |
| comprised of carbon atoms that have been | | | | |
| rolled together. Maynard's study found that | | | | Individuals, especially nanotube factory |
| when mice were exposed to nanotubes, they | | | | workers who have previously worked with |
| developed asbestos-induced symptoms within | | | | carbon nanotubes or have been exposed to the |
| the lungs. While he and other researchers | | | | potential dangers associated with the |
| consider nanotubes to be safe - when encased | | | | nanotubes and developing mesothelioma should |
| - the risk occurs when nanotubes are | | | | receive medical attention immediately. |
| incinerated or broken. | | | | |
| | | | It may also become necessary for these |
| Nanotubes are currently being used in: | | | | individuals to locate a law firm with |
| | | | knowledge of mesothelioma-related litigation |
| * a variety of sports equipment | | | | in order to develop a mesothelioma lawsuit. |
| | | | |
| * bicycle frames | | | | Because of the nature of the industry and the |
| | | | continued funding flooding into carbon |
| * tennis rackets | | | | nanotube research it is important to develop |
| | | | a lawsuit that will also alert others, in a |
| * electronic gas detectors | | | | similar predicament, and provide aware of the |
| | | | potentially serious health risks associated |
| * radios | | | | with nanotechnology. Further, because only 5 |
| | | | percent of the funding, which consists of |
| Additionally, because of the strength of | | | | billions of dollars annually, provided by the |
| nanotubes, many consider its future use to | | | | National Nanotechnology Institute is going |
| vastly effect several business ventures and | | | | toward health and safety research, it is |
| areas, and be widely used in industries | | | | important for individuals with |
| including: | | | | nanotube-induced mesothelioma to develop a |
| | | | lawsuit that may offer monetary compensation |
| * aerospace | | | | to victims suffering from this irreversible |
| | | | and deadly lung cancer. |