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