Mesothelioma and engineered nanotubes: cause for concern?

Hot topics
Chairs: T. Tetley (London, United Kingdom), P. Gehr (Bern, Switzerland)
Aims: The aim of this session is to:
- highlight the significance of inhalation of fibres with specific structural and physiological (e.g. durability) features in the development and incidence of mesothelioma, an incurable cancer.
- provide evidence that supports the hypothesis that carbon nanotubes have a similar potential to amphibole asbestos to induce pulmonary mesothelioma, including possible mechanisms of action.
- provide debate on the likelihood and reality of this happening in man.

The structure of carbon nanotubes and why they might cause mesothelioma P. Borm (Heerlen, Netherlands)
Inhalation of carbon nanotubes will not necessarily induce mesothelioma: the two faces of Janus D. Lison (Brussels, Belgium)