And action is crucial, the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies' Maynard says—not only to protect workers and consumers, but also to protect the promise of the technology itself.

"If you look at the potential of what we can achieve with nanotechnology, it's really quite incredible," he says. "But if we want to realize the long-term benefit, we've got to get these health, safety, ethical and social issues right as early as possible."

In the past, Maynard says, policymakers and businesses have developed technology and then tried to address problems as they emerge. "This is an opportunity," he notes, "to do things the other way around."

Carole Bass is an Alicia Patterson fellow, reporting on toxic exposures on the job.

1 Comments

1. 1. Enrico C 04:55 AM 7/22/08

   From a chemical point of view carbon nano-tubes are part of the family of polycyclic aromatic condensed rings (see Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycyclic_aromatic_hydrocarbon ).
   These molecules are able to form stable radicals that can chemically interact with DNA and are capable of altering the chemical structure of DNA promoting DNA miss-functioning and cancer formation ( see for ex. Benzopyrene http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzopyrene ).
   Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are formed during the synthesis of CNTs and are absorbed on the internal and external surfaces of the nano-tubes.
   These substances can be released when CNTs came in contact with human body.
   Also directly CNTs are able to for very stable radicals that could interact with DNA. More deep investigations are needed before use CNTs on a large scale.
   Enrico Costantini ( LyondellBasell Additives director )
   

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