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There is one thing that worries me about graphene. Its structure resembles me a lot the structure of cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene. Now, we know

There is one thing that worries me about graphene. Its structure resembles me a lot the structure of cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene. Now, we know that these compounds are extremely stable and resistant to heat, such as graphene. But we also know that, because of this, these compounds are extremely carcinogenic. Therefore my worries: wouldn't graphene also be a powerful carcinogenic? We had the same problem with asbestos and recently with nano-tubes, right? It was discovered they are carcinogenic precisely because they are extremely stable.

mercuryrising 14y ago
Asbestos is dangerous when it goes in, and when it comes out. The pipes in my house are insulated with Asbestos, but as long as I don't go break the insulation apart, I'll be fine. In many cases, Graphene or nanotubes will be used in a fixed form - they (hopefully) won't be used in aerosols. In something like an electronic component, the fullerenes would be locked in a plastic cage. You've probably inhaled graphene, nanotubes, and bucky balls if you have been around a bonfire.
Raphael 14y ago
Good point. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130115111551.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130115111551.ht...
aqme28 14y ago
Graphene is fundamentally the same thing as the stuff in your pencil. If graphene is carcinogenic, we've already been exposing generations of people to it.
- vicks 14y ago
  Most pencils are made of graphite which is a form of carbon.
  - DigitalJack 14y ago
    And graphene is made of carbon. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphene http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphene
  - aqme28 14y ago
    graphene is single-layer sheets of graphite. Graphite is made of bazillions of graphene sheets stacked and folded on top of eachother every-which way.
lilsunnybee 14y ago
so so many organic compounds, inside and outside the human body, contain aromatic rings. graphene may be toxic, but not because it resembles benzene.
- lilsunnybee 14y ago
  chemically its not likely to be any more harmful than graphite, though because of the nano scale of it, if it were to be inhaled (unlikely probably), it could be as harmful as asbestos or other sharp, irritating, harmful particles.

mercuryrising 14y ago

Asbestos is dangerous when it goes in, and when it comes out. The pipes in my house are insulated with Asbestos, but as long as I don't go break the insulation apart, I'll be fine. In many cases, Graphene or nanotubes will be used in a fixed form - they (hopefully) won't be used in aerosols. In something like an electronic component, the fullerenes would be locked in a plastic cage. You've probably inhaled graphene, nanotubes, and bucky balls if you have been around a bonfire.

Raphael 14y ago

Good point. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130115111551.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130115111551.ht...

aqme28 14y ago

Graphene is fundamentally the same thing as the stuff in your pencil. If graphene is carcinogenic, we've already been exposing generations of people to it.

vicks 14y ago
Most pencils are made of graphite which is a form of carbon.
- DigitalJack 14y ago
  And graphene is made of carbon. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphene http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphene
- aqme28 14y ago
  graphene is single-layer sheets of graphite. Graphite is made of bazillions of graphene sheets stacked and folded on top of eachother every-which way.

lilsunnybee 14y ago

so so many organic compounds, inside and outside the human body, contain aromatic rings. graphene may be toxic, but not because it resembles benzene.

lilsunnybee 14y ago
chemically its not likely to be any more harmful than graphite, though because of the nano scale of it, if it were to be inhaled (unlikely probably), it could be as harmful as asbestos or other sharp, irritating, harmful particles.