Researchers at the German chemical group BASF have found that dust from materials containing nanoparticles and nanotubes is no finer than that from conventional materials. Additionally, rats exposed to the fine dust fared no worse whether the material contained nano-components or not. The team subjected four materials – two thermoplastic and two cements infused with different nanostructures – to high speed sanding, gentle abrasion and UV radiation, with an eye toward consumer exposure. Andrew Maynard, professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Michigan, United States, said the results were to be expected as nano-components are very tightly bound to the plastic and cement. “We cannot be complacent and assume that there is no release or subsequent risk here – there need to be studies, and this is one that helps inch the state of knowledge forward,” he said. Wendel Wohlleben, one of the BASF researchers, said the rat study was preliminary as it was limited by the amount of powder available, but the results suggest that the nano-components do not increase the hazards of inhaling the material. “The statistics will be improved in further studies, but for the first time, we have experimentally determined all elements of a risk assessment of nano-composites,” he added.
http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2011/June/16061102.asp