May 29, 2008 – A paper published last week on the U.K.’s Nature Nanotechnology site (see a summary of the pay-to-read report, “Carbon nanotubes introduced into the abdominal cavity of mice show asbestos-like pathogenicity in a pilot study”), tells of research findings that long carbon nanotubes injected into mice can form lesions that may lead to cancer. News of the report showed up in media outlets all around the world, even — thanks to syndication — small town newspapers. These news articles carry alarmist titles, such as “Nanotubes found to pose same danger as asbestos” (which appeared in New Hampshire’s Concord Monitor).

Because the news reports focus on “long” nanotubes, I was curious to hear from Nanocomp Technologies (also based in Concord, NH), which is known for continuous production of long, highly pure carbon nanotubes. In an exclusive interview, Nanocomp CEO Peter Antoinette told Small Times that even if the report is highly suspect (and he noted that Nanocomp’s staff scientists are annoyed by its “bad science”), “we treat this issue with respect and don’t cut corners.” And, he points out, this has been the company’s modus operandi since the beginning.

Nanocomp’s “growth area,” the negative-pressure room where the company grows sheets of nano “fabric,” is a cleanroom of sorts, and the staff dons protective bunny suits, eyewear, gloves, and masks. The company follows a regular routine of stringent monitoring — and verifying the efficacy of the monitoring, with Dr. Michael Ellenbecker of UMass Lowell’s School of Health & Environment. Not surprisingly, given the investment Antoinette described for filtration equipment in the nanomanufacturing room, the monitoring has revealed the presence of far more particulates in the warehouse and office areas than in the growth area.

Antoinette explained his company’s full disclosure of information to Nanocomp’s employees (who are trained, tested, empowered to “stop the assembly line,” and given access to a full range of articles and studies), landlord, neighbors and other stakeholders. And while he’s clearly serious about mitigating any detrimental effects of nanotubes, he notes that he’s even more concerned about other, more “mundane” worker hazards such as chemicals and mechanical equipment.

Incidentally, while the Nature Nanotechnology paper defines “long” nanotubes as those of more than 20 microns, the longest tubes used in the experiment were 56 microns — and Nanocomp’s are millimeter-long nanotubes. The company is working on application of nanotechnologies to dramatically increase the efficiency of solar power conversion and other uses.