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Carbon nanotubes cause cancer
A STUDY has come to the alarming conclusion that, if inhaled in large quantities, carbon nanotubes could wind up being as, if not more, dangerous than asbestos.
Whilst many might be thinking, "well, who would go around sniffing Carbon nanotubes?", the fact of the matter is that they can be found in anything from electrical circuits, to processors, to pharmaceuticals and even face creams, due to their extraordinary strength and unique electrical properties.
But now, in a new paper, published this week in the journal Nature nanotechnology, boffins, who have been researching the effects of exposure to nanotubes on mice, claim that certain varieties of nanotube could cause mesothelioma, a cancer which affects the lung lining.
Like Asbestos, the carbon nanotubes are thin and multi walled, and, as is the case for people exposed to asbestos, the cancer takes a while to manifest itself (30-40 years).
Dr. Andrew Maynard, chief science advisor to the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies who co wrote the report noted that people really had, "very little information about what types of carbon nanotubes are in products". He also pointed out that nanotubes came in a plethora of shapes and sizes, each with its own chemical behaviour.
Rather alarmingly, the scientist went on to say: "We don't know if the products on the market contain harmful nanotubes or safe nanotubes or even whether those nanotubes can come out of those products." Nanotubes are a billion dollar market and are an essential part of the technology industry. "The business community needs to very rapidly understand how to manage the [nanotube] issue, how to ensure their products are safe," Maynard said. ยต
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http://www.physorg.com/news96041735.html

The carcinogenic properties of these things have been known about for quite a while and suspected for even longer. At least the industry will have had a quicker warning than it ever got about asbestos and its link to mesothelioma.
that meso thing is upon all outer surfaces of organ tissue, called mesoderm. It seperates inside from outside. While asbestos is fish hooked spliney molecule that resists due to its complex molecular structure, those hooks tear up flesh & are can not be disgested or flushed from system. It has high resistance to current.Surgery being only sure removal.
While carbon nanotubes are much smaller, about 1/10 of nanometer & of swirl of hair like structure,Very long in Length, much less harmful directly, yet carbon too can readily end up in wrong places (DNA), being so small and organic in nature. Asbestoes causes cancer much faster than carbon nanotube. Instead of ripping flesh Nanotube incorporates itself, then disrupts it or breaks it, as forgien body. Redness is first sign in both cases.Carbon Nanotubes have low resistance to current.

Carbon nanotubes dropped from LCD screen news some time ago, yet are starting to pick up again. As korean Manufacturer has working model, hoping to show public very soon.Production perhaps as early as late Fall?
It is Unlikely Carbon Nanotubes will ever cure cancer. In fact Prince Charles has issued warning about use of carbon nanotubes. 
Another nanotube, copper nanotube, is pentagonal cryatal with pointed end. It is being explored in F.E.T. Display as pointed tip allows greater field to activate phosphors.It is Several years out, in any practical sense of LCD Manufacturer.
drashek
[quote] Like Asbestos, the carbon nanotubes are thin and multi walled, and, as is the case for people exposed to asbestos, the cancer takes a while to manifest itself (30-40 years). [/quote]

Well jeeze, in that timeframe, I can get lung cancer from cigarettes, mercury poisoning from eating too much seafood, and brain cancer from my cell phone. C'mon fellas, by the time you're exposed to enough nanotubes to become hazardous to your health, you'll be 714 years old. The only real gain from this group publishing this paper is to warn those in the manufacturing process of nanotubes to wear a mask. Those people are the only ones with a real risk, and even then, one that might not even kill them before something else does.

Stop freaking out the public with things that really won't "kill" them.
I am pretty sure nanotubes are not used in pharmaceuticals or processors or electrical circuits now... Those are research projects, 10+ years from reaching the market.
The one huge concern about carbon nanotubes is their size, just other particlate matter such as diesel particulates they all cause damage to humans. They are also impossible to clean up and if ever dropped or spilled into the environment and would be a cause for concern for years. As far as it being a carcinogen is really a no brainer.
You should change the title of this until the link is proven.

The study showed that the inhalation of carbon nanotubes in a mouse model showed that they would cause inflammation.

"However, the researchers said the link between long, straight, multi-walled carbon nanotubes and cancers was not proven.

"We are a long way from saying that any form of carbon nanotubes causes mesothelioma," said Dr Donaldson."

And as Moomanerism2 says you can increase your risk of cancer from just about anything. Apples, mustard and burnt toast all have carcinogenic compounds within them.

They might talk up the chances of the big C but it's probably to grab more funding.

Please don't contribute to the mass of junk science going around. There is more than enough about.
"used in ... pharmaceuticals and even face creams"

Carbon Nanotubes are not the only types of nanoparticles.

In the examples you cite pharmaceutical nanoparticles are mostly lipsomes, colloidal suspensions and other similar products. The face creams use either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

Neither of these fields are in any way related to carbon nanotubes.
Breathing causes lung cancer!!!


:rolleyes:

:D
There are some bits of information I find intriguing and some I find ridiculous. This is the latter choice. Why terrify the public about something they cannot understand nor do anything about? As one person mentioned, we could 714 years old before the Nanotube invasion cost us our life. C'mon, let's get MORE concerned about the evils in our water and environmental areas. THESE are issues the communities can band together to do something about, clean up the PCBs, the carcinogens that have been DUMPED by big business or ignored by them. Save the earth - at least for the 714 years we may have left!
They are simply too useful. They may even end up being what replaces gasoline in your car, as they have incredible power-storing potential. 

They will instead try to regulate the manufacture and processing of these little nasties to filter out all the loose ones before shipping.

Good luck...
guess I gotta give up snorting nanotubes.
I am 45 until recently was perfectly healthy, worked out 4 hours a day before work, and ate plenty of greens. When I was told I had lung cancer I was shocked, I've never smoked in my life. A while ago a load of pixels spontaneously died on PDA, I think there's a connection. I am suing them when I work out which discount brand it was.
Newsflash!
Oxygen is not only addictive, it causes accelerated cell decay!
Recent scientific experiments have shown that inhaling oxygen is addictive, and withdrawal causes death. People continue to use this dangerously addictive product, even though cells exposed to oxygen decay more than 10 times faster than cells that are protected from this toxic chemical. Support legislation outlawing this insidious threat to our way of life, and taking all efforts to ensure that this corrosive chemical never passes your lips.
Good article on carbon nanotube potential for batteries:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/research/4237756.html