Nanorisk: safety and risks of carbon nanotubes

• Research unit: SFOPH
• Project number: 04.002513

Key words (German)

Nanotechnologie
Nanopartikel
Carbon Nano Tubes
Genexpression

Short description (German)

Nanotechnologien verfügen über ein hohes Wachstumspotential verbunden mit möglichen gesundheitlichen Risiken. Die Erkennntnisse aus der Forschung tragen dazu bei die Stoffe so zu regeln, dass die möglichen gesundheitlichen Risiken an Mensch und Umwelt minimiert werden können.

Project aims (German)

Der Einsatz der neuen Technologien wird dahin gehend geregelt, dass die gesundheitlichen Risiken bekannt sind und entsprechende Massnahmen getroffen werden können.

Abstract (German)

Successful introduction of nanoparticles will rely on an early realistic assessment of risks an appropriate precautionary measures. This project focuses on Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) and aims:

• to present the status quo of existing knowledge and unceratinties regarding safety and risk issues of CNT
• to perform research to obtain toxicological in vitro data for the hazard identification
• to identify the CNT toxicomechanism
• to perform a foresight of which potential problems than can arise in order to be able to take precautionary measures right during the R&D process.

Abstract (English)

Successful introduction of nanoparticles will rely on an early realistic assessment of risks an appropriate precautionary measures. This project focuses on Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) and aims:

• to present the status quo of existing knowledge and unceratinties regarding safety and risk issues of CNT
• to perform research to obtain toxicological in vitro data for the hazard identification
• to identify the CNT toxicomechanism
• to perform a foresight of which potential problems than can arise in order to be able to take precautionary measures right during the R&D process.

Publications / Results (German)

A. Helland, P. Wick, A. Koehler, K. Schmid, and C. Som, Reviewing the Environmental and Human Health Knowledge Base of Carbon Nanotubes, Environ. Health Perspect, 115:1125 (2007)

P. Wick, P. Manser, P. Spohn, and A. Bruinink, In vitro evaluation of possible adverse effects of nanosized materials, phys. stat. sol. (b), 243:3556 (2006)

P. Wick, P. Manser, L. K. Limbach, U. Dettlaff-Weglikowska, F. Krumeich, S. Roth, W. J. Stark and A. Bruinink, The degree and kind of agglomeration affect carbon nanotube cytotoxicity, Tox. Lett., 168:121 (2007)

Publications / Results (English)

• A. Helland, P. Wick, A. Koehler, K. Schmid, and C. Som, Reviewing the Environmental and Human Health Knowledge Base of Carbon Nanotubes, Environ. Health Perspect, 115:1125 (2007)

• P. Wick, P. Manser, P. Spohn, and A. Bruinink, In vitro evaluation of possible adverse effects of nanosized materials, phys. stat. sol. (b), 243:3556 (2006)

• P. Wick, P. Manser, L. K. Limbach, U. Dettlaff-Weglikowska, F. Krumeich, S. Roth, W. J. Stark and A. Bruinink, The degree and kind of agglomeration affect carbon nanotube cytotoxicity, Tox. Lett., 168:121 (2007)