Hazard and Risk Characterization of Inhaled Carbon Nanomaterials

The rapid introduction of nanotechnology in manufactured goods for diverse industrial applications and consumer uses promises great benefits, which – however – may be significantly offset because of toxicity implications. Indeed, serious concerns have been expressed about risks posed by exposure to engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), their potential to cause undesirable health effects, contaminate the environment and thereby adversely affect living systems. For example, carbon and TiO2 nanoparticles inhaled by rats at extraordinarily high concentrations in chronic studies induced lung tumors due to lung overloading…