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Implications of a Nano-Energy World: Assessment of the Health Risks of Carbon Nanotubes
Examination of exposure levels in terms of number concentration (part./cm) and mass concentration (mg/m) for vertically aligned carbon nanotubes and dispersed single and multi-walled carbon nanotubes
Achievement/Results
Caroline Golin, in collaboration with other NSF IGERT fellows, carried out a research project on the particulate health impacts of nanomaterials: Implications of a Nano-Energy World: Assessment of the Health Risks of Carbon Nanotubes. Tom Bougher, Caroline Golin, Anne Mallow, Saujon Sivaram; May 2012. This work was developed as a poster for presentation at the NSF IGERT workshop in Washington DC, which Golin will present, and also was developed as a research paper for the class Energy Technology and Policy.
The research project was based on the observation that use of nanomaterials in energy applications is expected to become substantial, but that little is known about long term exposure to nanomaterials or probability of inhalation. The group undertook laboratory tests in the Southwest Research Institute Nanoparticle Laboratory, using carbon nanotubes as the test material. Studies have suggested that the inhalation of carbon nanotubes may pose a health risk. Many studies have likened the health effects, such as inflammation and lung lesions, to that of asbestos. To assess the potential health effects associated with carbon nanomaterials they conducted a series of experiments to characterize common exposure mechanisms in terms of airborne nanotubes. They measured exposure levels in terms of number concentration and mass concentration for vertically aligned carbon nanotubes and dispersed single and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. They concluded that carbon nanotubes may pose an inhalation risk to people in a manufacturing or laboratory setting. They also concluded that more work needs to be done to understand the risk and develop test processes that can be used to understand any nanomaterial inhalation risk. Additionally they suggest that new exposure levels need to be set for nanomaterials to secure a safe working environment.
As part of this project, Golin and the other NSF IGERT students identified policy barriers to constructing effective regulation of nanomaterials, including the complexity of classifying nanomaterials separate from their base chemicals, an inadequate assessment process in terms of risk and life cycle analysis, insufficient public awareness, and insufficient industry cooperation.
This research is particularly notable in that it involved policy students in actually carrying out laboratory experiments with nanomaterials, and involved engineering students in evaluating policy options and in understanding the challenges of policy development to ensure safe management of nanomaterials.
Address Goals
To enhance the economic and energy security of the United States, to maintain a lead in developing advanced energy technologies and to promote diversity in this critical research field, we are developing an integrated approach to enhance the multi-disciplinary graduate education of future engineers, scientists and policy makers in Energy Storage, Conversion, and Policy. Implementation of new materials into energy technologies will depend on broader influences, such as energy policy, social and environmental concerns, as well as the economics of the solution. Thus, it is critical to train our students in these important areas, which are often not considered in their PhD studies. In order to enhance the impact of the energy research, This NSF IGERT program is supporting the integrations of public policy and commercialization topics into the educational programs of our NSF IGERT trainees, in addition to other interested students at Georgia Tech. This end-to-end educational process will be unique and provide our students with a broad set of skills and a global vision, providing a strong foundation for their future leadership roles.
The research achievement associated with assessing the health risks of carbon nanotubes is a student driven project and direct outgrowth of a multidisciplinary course in Public Policy that was developed uhder the auspices of the NSF program. Not only is Public Policy represented in the research team, but Mechanical and Chemical Engineering IGERT Fellows also play an equal role in this research demonstrating that carbon nanotubes may pose an inhalation risk to people in a manufacturing or laboratory setting. The team also concluded that more work needs to be done to understand the risk and develop test processes that can be used to understand any nanomaterial inhalation risk. Additionally they suggest that new exposure levels need to be set for nanomaterials to secure a safe working environment.
