Health fears over computer material A material used in computer
technology could pose health risks to those involved in its
manufacture, according to scientists. Nanoplatelets, made from
thin layers of the carbon graphene, are said to be used for
their super-conductive properties. The flexibility of the disc-
shaped particles mean they can be readily incorporated into
plastic and rubber, and are used to enhance the electronic
properties of touch screens. However, scientists at the
University of Edinburgh have found that the particles could be
harmful when they enter the lungs. The nanoplatelets, which are
less than one carbon atom thick and invisible to the naked eye,
behave like tiny Frisbees and stay airborne. But researchers
said their aerodynamic properties mean that when inhaled, they
can find their way deeper into the lungs than other forms of
graphene, meaning they could accumulate in the lungs and cause
damage. Professor Ken Donaldson, chair of respiratory toxicology
at the University of Edinburgh, sai