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EC Committee opinion strengthened by new information on carbon nanotubes
Published: Friday 27 June 2008
During the last meeting of the EC’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (Plenary meeting, held on the 21st May 2008), the committee ‘was informed about the publication of a scientific paper on Carbon nanotubes and asbestos-like pathogenicity and has been asked by the Commission to provide a statement regarding this study.’ (see Minutes of the 24th Plenary SCENIHR Meeting, Brussels, 21st May 2008).
In response to the request, SCENIHR discussed and developed a ‘SCENIHR statement on the publication by Nature Nanotechnology "Carbon nanotubes introduced into the abdominal cavity of mice show asbestos like pathogenicity in a pilot study" by Craig A. Poland et al.’.
In this statement, SCENIHR draw attention to the following:
- Nanomaterials have many properties that are common with materials in other forms.
- Nanotubes are fibre-like structures at the nanoscale generally composed of carbon.
- Some carbon nanotubes have similar properties with respect to shape, size, stiffness and persistence to the hazardous forms of asbestos. Therefore, it has been suspected that they would constitute a similar health hazard. The paper by Poland et al., which uses a mouse model, indicates that it is indeed so. This animal model is considered predictive for the carcinogenic properties of fibres.
- It has been established for many years that certain asbestos fibres, that have the physical properties of a high length to diameter ratio and that are persistent in the lung, can cause chronic inflammation resulting in mesothelioma.
- This new information fits with existing SCENIHR opinions that each new nanomaterial should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Follow these links to find out more about SCENIHR, to download the SCENIHR Minutes (21st May 2008) download the full paper (abstract only; full paper available to subscribers only), or find out more about the CNT toxicology paper (for more information see Scientists support industries' safety claims, and NIA clarifies: Study on carbon nanotubes doesn’t mean that workers or consumers are at risk).
Registered NIA Members can download additional documents from the ‘Members Only’-area on the NIA website:
Full Meeting Note of the Press Briefing, held at the Science Media Centre (20th May 2008, London)