Reader Response Draft 2

According to "Duo turn plastic waste into a concrete idea", (Goy 2016), states that experts have discovered an ecological way of producing carbon nanotubes through the conversion of plastic waste.  Along with the reduction of cement, plastic waste can be reused as the carbon materials can be used to amplify the strength of concrete. Carbon nanotubes are versatile as they do not weigh much and are durable. They are also great conductors of electricity. Despite its advantages, the usage of carbon nanotubes are rare due to its high cost and production of harmful gases during the process of recycling. Technology company BlueRen, uses another mineral that is more ecological as the catalyst to transform plastic into hydrocarbon gases which results in the formation of carbon nanotubes.

In the article by Goy, Wong Chun Ling, co-founder of technology company BlueRen, states that with their discovery, BlueRen edges closer to their objective of commercializing carbon nanotubes and alleviating Singapore’s plastic waste issue. BlueRen’s approach allows 1,000 tonnes of carbon nanotubes to be produced from every 10,000 tonnes of plastic waste, which results in a 10 percent yield. BlueRen was awarded the coveted grant by DBS Foundation Social Enterprise. The grant will be used to produce a prototype.

Thesis Statement: It is important to think of technologies like the recycling of plastic waste into carbon nanotubes, however, it is also important to take into consideration the environmental hazard it may come with.

While the article "Duo turn plastic waste into a concrete idea" did mention the point that carbon nanotubes have the capability of amplifying the strength of concrete, are versatile, durable and weigh less. The article failed to elaborate on the environmental impact producing carbon nanotubes might cause.

There are many products in the current market that uses carbon nanotubes, with sporting goods like tennis racket being an example. While it might look like there are little risk to consumer using products containing carbon nanotubes, toxicologists are worried that there might be a health risk for workers involved in the production of carbon nanotubes.

Studies have shown that breathing in carbon nanotubes could share the same health impact as breathing in asbestos. Carbon nanotube’s thin and long fibers are found to be identical to asbestos. According to an article published by World Health Organisation, around 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos at their workplace and about half of the deaths from occupational cancer are supposedly caused by asbestos. Asbestos fibers have been proven to cause mesothelioma, a deadly lung cancer, this had resulted in a ban of asbestos fibers in insulations of building. 

With the fibers’ similarities in mind, it is believed that carbon nanotube could also cause mesothelioma. Reseachers from Queen’s Medical Research Institute supported the theory by exposing lab mice to needle-thin nanotubes. The result of the experiment showed that the inside lining of the mice body cavity became inflamed and formed lesions known as granulomas.

To conclude, with carbon nanotubes being projected to grow in the global market due to its impressive properties, further research on the environmental hazard and safe practices of carbon nanotubes must be carried out until proven that it is safe for production.

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

Larry Greenemeier (20 May 2008), Scientific American, “Study says Carbon Nanotubes as Dangerous as Asbestos”
Retrieved from
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/carbon-nanotube-danger/

 The Univeristy of Edinburgh (14 Apr 2016), “Carbon nanotube health hazard”
Retrieved from
http://www.ed.ac.uk/news/all-news/carbon-nanotubes

(19 May 2008), “Caron Nanotubes that look like Asbestos, Behave like Asbestos”
Retreived from
http://www.nanotechproject.org/news/archive/mwcnt/

(26 Nov 16), “Are carbon nanotubes the next Asbestos?’
Retreived from
http://blogs.biomedcentral.com/on-health/2014/11/26/are-carbon-nanotubes-the-next-asbestos/

World Health Organisation (Aug 2017), “Asbestos: elimination of asbestos-related diseases”
Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs343/en/