Recent study indicates that carbon naotubes can harm pleura, the outer lining of the lungs. Carbon naotubes are used in sports equipments and medical applications. But, the present study hasn’t shown the long-term effects of use of carbon naotubes.

Research team from North Carolina State University, Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences used animal models to study the effect of inhaling multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

This study was conducted to determine whether carbon nanotubes can reach pleura, which have high risk of being affected by the asbestos fibres, present in the carbon nanotubes. Asbestos, if inhaled can cause mesothelioma.

Research team found that exposure to carbon naotubes triggered a unique reaction around the pleura within a day, during which clusters of immune cells (lymphocytes and monocytes) began collecting on the surface of the pleura signifying protection against the alien particles. Hence it was clear that the carbon fibres could reach the pleura.

Researchers said, "More work needs to be done in that area and it is completely unknown at this point whether inhaled carbon nanotubes will prove to be carcinogenic in the lungs or in the pleural lining."