Can Asbestos Help Us Understand Nanotoxicity?

Roland Piquepaille writes "Occupational Hazards is running an interesting article about how using our knowledge of asbestos could help us to assess the risks from nanoparticles, or their nanotoxicity. Today, it's unknown if nanomaterials under development are dangerous to human beings or to our environment. Some people think that nanoparticles can move to our lungs or our brains, presenting a significant threat to our health. Other scientists think there is no danger because we have been exposed to nanoparticles for thousands of years, such as ashes from volcanic eruptions. For example, nanotubes which are now used for many industrial developments, have similar shapes as fibers like asbestos, being long and extremely thin. And like nanomaterials today, asbestos was considered as harmless when humans were exposed to it. While the comparison has some merit, more research needs to be done before drawing any conclusion."

Comments

Visit to the woodshed?

[RobertB-DC]

This looks to be the second article in a row from the esteemed Monsieur Piquepaille that doesn't link to an article in his blog. Check out his story posting history:

Can asbestos help us understand nanotoxicity? Wed Oct 19, '05 12:23 PM
Pillows Dangerous for Your Health Sat Oct 15, '05 12:28 PM
Molecular Gastronomy, The Science of Cooking Mon Aug 29, '05 11:32 AM
The Eyes of the Space Shuttle Wed Aug 03, '05 12:58 PM

BIG gap between the two latest non-self-referential stories, and the weekly shameless self-promotion that used to be his trademark.

I suspect that somebody either gave Mr. P a stern talking-to, or more likely the editors just quit accepting his stories. Now, he's back, chastened and better for it. You've got to admit, the guy has an eye for science stories. He's just got to have confidence that if he posts good stuff, the click-throughs to his main page (linked appropriately to his name) will follow in time.

I'm all for shameless self-promotion, of course, but I'm content with the URL link in the post heading. Well, mostly...

Don't lick the Space elevator Johnny!

[saskboy]

"Other scientists think there is no danger because we have been exposed to nanoparticles for thousands of years, such as ashes from volcanic eruptions. " /sarcasm on/
And humans haven't had ANY as of yet unexplained health problems over those thousands of years either. /sarcasm off/

I think it was a bloody shame that the EPA declared New York's air safe to breath after the attack on the World Trade Center, when trillions of nano-toxins were released into the air for cleanup and emergency crews to inhale. We're going to see more of New York Lung, in the years to come.

EPA Liars

[Doc Ruby]

I live in NYC, and I don't trust the EPA to tell me that nanoparticles are safe. They lied to us after 9/11/2001 about the poisonous air. They lied to the heroic volunteers and police/fire/EMTs who could have worn masks while digging in the rubble. Instead thousands of people are walking testimonials to the EPA's lies about air pollution. I see them every day. The EPA's got a lot of work to recover its credibility. And I haven't seen anything to convince me that they're on that path.