Ken Donaldson, professor of respiratory toxicology at the University of Edinburgh used the Nanotubes and Nanofibres conference in Brussels this week to call for the establishment of a discipline of Nanotoxicology.
Given the amount of research needed in this area, and the confusing results coming out of various toxicology studies, we would agree. Certainly most of the business community is very supportive.
It is important that we get the labelling right, whether on nanotubes or nanoparticles. A toxic compound is not necessarily a risk provides it is handled correctly. A bottle of hydrofluoric acid is perfectly safe as long it is labelled as such, stored in the appropriate manner and only handled by people with the appropriate training, and while there is no reason the expect nanotubes to be any different, there is nothing wrong with erring on the side of caution until we know exactly what the label should say.
To help with the understanding of Nanotoxicology, a new journal, “Nanotoxicology” is shortly to be launched, and edited by Vyvyan Howard.