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Aitken, Robert J.; Peters, Sheona A.K.; Jones, Alan D.; Stone, Vicki --- "Regulation of Carbon Nanotubes and Other High Aspect Ratio Nanoparticles: Approaching this Challenge from the Perspective of Asbestos" [2010] ELECD 719; in Hodge, A. Graeme; Bowman, M. Diana; Maynard, D. Andrew (eds), "International Handbook on Regulating Nanotechnologies" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2010)

Book Title: International Handbook on Regulating Nanotechnologies

Editor(s): Hodge, A. Graeme; Bowman, M. Diana; Maynard, D. Andrew

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781848446731

Section: Chapter 11

Section Title: Regulation of Carbon Nanotubes and Other High Aspect Ratio Nanoparticles: Approaching this Challenge from the Perspective of Asbestos

Author(s): Aitken, Robert J.; Peters, Sheona A.K.; Jones, Alan D.; Stone, Vicki

Number of pages: 33

Extract:

11 Regulation of carbon nanotubes and
other high aspect ratio nanoparticles:
approaching this challenge from the
perspective of asbestos
Robert J. Aitken, Sheona A.K. Peters,
Alan D. Jones and Vicki Stone


11.1 INTRODUCTION

The term `nanotechnology' represents a multidisciplinary grouping of
physical, chemical, biological, engineering, and electronic processes, mate-
rials, applications and concepts, in which the defining characteristic is one
of size (Aitken et al., 2004). Emerging nanotechnology is already under-
pinning a multibillion $US market, and is predicted to be associated with
$US3.1 trillion worth of manufactured goods by 2015 (Lux Research,
2008).
Nanotechnology products include nanoparticles (NPs) (particles with
all three external dimensions in the nanoscale, 1­100 nm) and nano-
objects (discrete pieces of material with one or more external dimensions
in the nanoscale), such as nanotubes (British Standards Institute (BSI),
2007). Nanotubes are a particularly novel form of nano-objects, about
which there is great interest and excitement. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs),
first discovered by Iijima (1991), are a new form of carbon molecule,
similar in structure to the spherical molecule C60 (buckminsterfullerene)
but elongated to form tubular structures 1­2 nm in diameter. CNTs can
be produced with very high aspect ratios (ratio of length and width) and
range in length from a few micrometres up to millimetres (Donaldson et
al., 2006). There are many types and variants of CNT but they can broadly
be categorized into two types:

1. single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) which consist of a single
layer of carbon ...