Boffin mentions Asbestos at nanoparticles conference

A BOFFIN warned that "very little" is known about the possible impact on human health the use of nanotechnology may have.

Speaking at the Nanoparticles for European Industry conference in London this week, Professor Anthony Seaton, of Aberdeen University, mentioned the dreaded word ‘asbestos' to the gathering of industry-leading figures, causing many to splutter in their coffee.

Asbestos, he said, "was known as a wonder material and it got into thousands and thousands of applications. Now, thousands and thousands of people are dying from it ."

The tiny particles in asbestos got into peoples' lungs causing a condition known as asbestosis. Professor Seaton warned that more research should be done in the field to ensure the use of nano-materials in the workplace won't be injurious to people's health.

Seaton warned that the recommendations of a Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineers report he'd contributed to in 2004 by the hadn't been acted on.

"The technology and applications of nanoparticles are racing ahead and still we haven't actually put together a proper research programme into the effect of nanoparticles on the biological system," Seaton told the Scotsman, ahead of his keynote speech. "We don't know enough to know which nanoparticles would be harmful," he added.

There's a nice picture of some nanoparticles nestling comfortably in a lung cell in a a pdf of bunch of slides produced by Professor Seaton here. µ

L'INQs
Institute of Nanotechnology
The Scotsman