Reader Response

According to the article “Duo turn plastic waste into concrete idea”, Goy (2016) states that experts have discovered an ecological way of producing carbon nanotubes through the conversion of plastic waste. BlueRen’s approach, converts one tenth of the plastic waste into carbon nanotubes, results in a 10 percent yield. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are versatile as they do not weigh much and are durable. They are also great conductors of electricity. However, the usage of carbon nanotubes is are due to its high cost and production of harmful gases during the process of recycling.

According to Goy (2016), Wong Chun Ling states that with their discovery, BlueRen edges closer to their objective of commercializing carbon nanotubes and alleviating Singapore’s plastic waste issue. BlueRen was awarded the coveted grant by DBS Foundation Social Enterprise. The funds obtained through the grant will be used to produce a prototype. Despite carbon nanotubes being stronger and lighter than steel, the implementation of carbon nanotubes in the construction industry is premature as it poses environmental and health-related concerns.

Firstly, carbon nanotubes have shown potential to cause environmental impact varying from toxic gases to damages of biodiversity. Generally, the method used to produce CNT is by the chemical vapor deposition of ethylene. Both the predecessor product and the side product are hazardous to the environment, which contains greenhouse gas emissions. According to the article “Carbon Nanotubes in Electronics: Background and Discussion for Waste-Handling Strategies”, Manzetti and Anderson (2013) states that CNT can hinder with living things, causing potential health hazards such as genotoxicity and cellular damage. They also added that recent aquatic studies shown that CNT can affect rainbow trout and other mono-cellular aquatic organisms, causing harm to the respiratory function and other terminal effects.

Secondly, carbon nanotubes have raised concerns for its similarities towards asbestos, a carcinogen that can cause cancer such as mesothelioma. Carbon nanotubes, just like asbestos, shares similar properties and can affect living things through breathing. Luanpitpong et al. (2016) discovered exposures to carbon nanotube particles can stimulate lung fibroblast to become cancer-associated fibroblast like cells (CAF-like cells) and it can enhance tumour growth of lung carcinoma cells. They stated that a research was conducted using known carbon-associated fibroblast markers such as “α-smooth muscle actin” and “podoplanin” and the results has shown to have stimulated carbon-associated fibroblast like cells. To understand further on how CNT affect the human body, mice were experimented on with the use CNT-induced CAF-like cells and human lung carcinoma H460 cells. The experiment lasted for 3 weeks with results confirming enhanced tumour growth. 

In a research conducted by University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Lam et al. (2006) wrote a review regarding the toxicity and assessment of potential risk of carbon nanotubes. Lam et al. (2006) stated that although the forming of CNT is environmentally friendly, there are possibilities in which CNT can pollute the environment. Fine particles induced through the deterioration of wear and tear products can lead to environmental contamination. This results in unintentional inhalation of the CNT, which can lead to health-related concerns as mentioned above.

In conclusion, if CNT were to be expanded into the construction industry, more studies regarding the health risk, safeguarding policies and ways to eliminate the potential hazard should be verified before the implementation of CNT into concrete is being widespread into the industry.

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References:
Priscilla Goy (11 January 2016), The Straits Times. “Duo turn plastic waste into a concrete idea”
Retrieved from
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/duo-turn-plastic-waste-into-a-concrete-idea

Mark Crawford (February 2013), ASME. “Making carbon nanotubes safer for the environment” 
Retrieved from

Sudjit Luanpitpong et al. (20 December 2016), Nature. “Induction of cancer-associated fibroblast-like cells by carbon nanotubes dictates its tumorigenicity” 
Retrieved from

Sergio Manzetti and Otto Andersen (7 May 2013), Challenges. “Carbon Nanotubes in Electronics: Background and Discussion for Waste-Handling Strategies”
Retrieved from

Chiu-wing Lam el at. (2006), NASA publications. "A Review of Carbon Nanotube Toxicity and Assessment of Potential Occupational and Environmental Health Risks"
Retrieved from
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1177&context=nasapub


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