I’ve been fascinated by the coverage of Surrey nanosystems’ carbon nanotube-based Vantablack material this week. The material’s had widespread coverage – just Google “vantablack” to see what I mean. But in amongst all the geeked-out media excitement over the world’s darkest material, there’s been nary a word on the possible health risks presented by the material.
As it turns out, this is fair enough, as the likelihood of anyone being exposed to substantial amounts of Vantablack carbon nanotubes is pretty low – as I discussed the other day.
But consider this:
1. Certain forms of carbon nanotubes are known to be highly toxic if inhaled;
2. Past media coverage (and research) has compared long, thin, straight carbon nanotubes to asbestos;
3. The biggest no-no with carbon nanotubes would be to use them in clothing and furnishings where they could be released and inhaled; and
4. Rather a lot of the media coverage of Vantablack speculated about the material’s use in ultra-black clothing.
You’d have thought that, with this context, at least one journalist would have written something about the potential risks and how they might be avoided.
But apart from the 2020 Science piece posted on Wednesday, I cannot find a single article that goes beyond giddy excitement. (If you do find one, please post the link in the comments!)
I guess tech writers either don’t care that much about the possible risks of engineered nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes, or don’t know enough to care.
Which is disappointing for readers who’d like to know about the possible risks as well as the potential benefits – even if the risks are negligible.