Do CNTs represent a potential environmental super-disaster?
The same case can be made for any kind of nano-particle. From a purely chemical point of view, the carbon nanotubes are considered inert. The is a similarity with asbestos – the material forms needles which are not broken down by organic processes. Asbestos causes the same problems as other silicates ground to dust, permanent damage of lung tissue when inhaled. Yes, short strands of carbon nanotubes could do that, too – it’s a mechanical rather than chemical process. Like with asbestos, the most dangerous form is aerosol, not watery solution. If you drink water with a thimbleful of asbestos, the adverse effects are a lot smaller than when inhaling asbestos dust. Combinatory effects with other substances cannot be tested. Carbon nanotubes have the potential to capture ions or small molecules inside, creating rather different chemical properties. There is no scientific way to prove that they are safe. The expected threat to water ecology is several orders of magnitude lesser than that of
