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odour-free garments containing nanosilver particles that eaded by Yuguo Song from the Department o
are twice as toxic to bacteria than bleach. Auto industry | Occupational Medicine and Clinical Toxicology at the
companies have added carbon nanofibres to tyres and Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, seven young female workers
body panels to strengthen them. ell seriously ill after working in a paint factory that used
According to the Project on Emerging nanotechnology. The workers suffered severe and
Nanotechnologies (PEN), health and fitness items permanent lung damage, and face and arm eruptions.
continue to dominate available nanotech products, Two of them died, while the other five have no
representing 60 per cent of products listed. More _ improved after several years.
products are based on nanoscale silver—used for its Around 500 studies have shown nanotechnology
antimicrobial properties—than any other nanomaterial; oxicity in animal studies, in human cells and in the
259 products (26 per cent) use silver nanoparticles. PEN'’s — environment. Although Song's article finds evidence o
updated inventory represents products from over 24 clinical toxicity in human beings for the first time, this
countries, including the US, China, Canada and Germany. inding could be only the tip of the iceberg of an
Over 1,000 consumer products made with — extremely risky industry.
nanoparticles, which can be 100 times
smaller than a virus, are already on 18. The True Cost of Chevron
the market, despite an almost Chevron's 2008 annual report to its
jomples Teck of Anowledas he | uresearchers | shvtolders sa gos celebration
and the environment. And while discovered an profitable year in its history. Profits of
these a omic-sized particles may be unforeseen $24 billion catapulted Chevron past
beneficial in certain medical General Electric to become the
app ications, scientists and process, dubbed second most profitable corporation in
environmentalists are calling for more "toxic ossi " the United States. The oil company's
studies. Until now, few adverse g p > 2007 revenues were larger than the
cially uavegtated technology Yer | DY Which metal | gross