MWCNTs are microscopic tubes made up of multiple concentric layers of graphite or a single layer of graphite rolled around itself multiple times. The result is an extremely light and strong material that is currently used by the automotive industry, sporting goods, and electronics. If you have a new tennis racket, golf club shaft, tennis balls, golf balls, or bicycle, chances are they contain MWCNTs.
The paper states that MWCNTs “have distinctive characteristics, but their needle-like fibre shape has been compared to asbestos, raising concerns that widespread use of carbon nanotubes may lead to mesothelioma, cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos.” The findings of the research suggested that exposure of MWCNTs in mice resulted in asbestos-like pathogenic behavior, including inflammation and the formation of lesions known as granulomas. “The results were clear,” says Professor Kenneth Donaldson, who is a co-author of the study and led the research at the University of Edinburgh, UK. “Long, thin carbon nanotubes showed the same effects as long, thin asbestos fibers.” The research concluded that the “results suggest the need for further research and great caution before introducing such products into the market if long-term harm is to be avoided.”
