• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) stand at the frontier of nanotechnology and are destined to stimulate the next industrial revolution. Rapid increase in their production and use in the technology industry have led to concerns over the effects of CNT on human health and the environment. The prominent use of CNTs in biomedical applications also increases the possibility of human exposure, while properties such as their high aspect ratio (fiber-like shape) and large surface area raise safety concerns for human health if exposure does occur. It is crucial to develop viable alternatives to in vivo tests in order to evaluate the toxicity of engineered CNTs and develop validated experimental models capable of identifying CNTs' toxic effects and predicting their level of toxicity in the human respiratory system. Human lung epithelial cells serve as a barrier at the interface between the surrounding air and lung tissues in response to exogenous particles such as air-pollutants, including CNTs. Monolayer culture of the key individual cell types has provided abundant fundamental information on the response of these cells to external perturbations. However, such systems are limited by the absence of cell-cell interactions and their dynamic nature, which are both present in vivo. In this review, we suggested two viable alternatives to in vivo tests to evaluate the health risk of human exposure to CNTs.

• 전기화학회지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.105-108
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• 2008

최근, 증폭되는 관심은 창조적인 방법에 따른 CNTs의 합리적인 기능화에 집중하고 있다. 하지만 CNTs의 적지 않은 독성은 아직 논쟁의 이슈가 되어 그 생물학적 응용이 제한되어왔다. CNT의 생체 적합성을 개선하기 위해 본 연구에서는 CNT와 유기적인 티타늄을 시작 물질로 나노 혼성의 CNT-$TiO_2$를 제조하여 전기화학적 거동을 고찰하였다. 본 연구는 개질 된 접촉면이 이질의 전자 전송율을 가속하고, 그 결과, 관련 검출감도를 강화할 수 있었음을 확인하였다. 또한 암의 초기 진단을 위한 생물학적 적합성으로 멀티신호의 민감한 바이오센서의 개발에 새로운 전략으로서 그 잠재력의 응용을 제안하고자 한다.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제56권1호
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• pp.42-48
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• 2018

리튬이온전지의 음극재로 높은 이론적인 용량과 낮은 방전 전위 및 무독성을 가진 실리콘이 높은 관심을 받고 있다. 본 연구에서는 리튬이온전지의 고효율 음극재로 활용을 위한 실리콘-탄소나노튜브-탄소(Si-CNT-C) 복합체를 제조하였다. 복합체 제조를 위해서는 에어로졸 자기조립과 후 열처리 공정을 사용하였다. 제조된 Si-CNT-C 복합체는 구형이었으며 평균 입자크기는 $2.72{\mu}m$이었다. 복합체의 크기는 실리콘 및 탄소나노튜브의 농도가 증가할수록 커지는 것을 확인하였다. Si-CNT-C 복합체는 탄소나노튜브와 글루코스에서 탄화된 탄소가 실리콘 입자들을 중심으로 표면에 부착된 형태이었다. 제조된 Si-CNT-C 복합체는 전기화학 분석을 통해 순수한 실리콘보다 우수한 사이클 성능을 보여주고 있음을 확인하였다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this case study is to assess workers' exposure to carbon nanotubes(CNTs) and characterize particles aerosolized during the process of producing CNT-enabled polytetrafuoroethylene(PTFE) composites at a worksite in Korea. Methods: Personal breathing zone and area samples were collected for determining respirable concentrations of elemental carbon(EC) using NIOSH(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) Method 5040. Personal exposure to nano-sized particles was measured as the number concentration and mean diameter using personal ultrafine particle monitors. The number concentration by particle size was measured using optical particle sizers(OPS) and scanning mobility particle sizers(SMPS). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) area samples were collected on TEM grids and analyzed to characterize the size, morphology, and chemistry of the particles. Results: Respirable EC concentrations ranged from 0.04 to 0.24 ㎍/㎥, which were below 23% of the exposure limit recommended by NIOSH and lower than background concentrations. Number concentrations by particle size measured using OPS and SMPS were not noticeably elevated during CNT-PTFE composite work. Instant increase of number concentrations of nano-sized particles was observed during manual sanding of CNT-PTFE composites. Both number concentrations and mean diameters did not show a statistically significant difference between workers handing CNT-added and not-added materials. TEM analyses revealed the emission of free-standing CNTs and CNT-PTFE aggregate particles from the powder supply task and composite particles embedded with CNTs from the computer numerical control(CNC) machining task with more than tens of micrometers in diameter. No free-standing CNT particles were observed from the CNC machining task. Conclusions: Significant worker exposure to respirable CNTs was not found, but the aerosolization of CNTs and CNT-embedded composite particles were observed during handing of CNT-PTFE powders and CNC machining of CNT-PTFE composites. Considering the limited knowledge on the toxicity of CNTs and CNT composite particles to date, it seems prudent to take a precautionary approach for the protection of workers' health.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.505-516
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• 2016

With the development of nanotechnology, nanomaterials are used in various fields. Therefore, the interest regarding the safety of nanomaterial use is increasing and much effort is diverted toward establishment of exposure assessment and management methods. Occupational exposure limits (OELs) are effectively used to protect the health of workers in various industrial workplaces. This study aimed to propose an OEL for domestic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) based on animal inhalation toxicity test. Basic procedure for development of OELs was examined. For OEL estimation, epidemiological study and quantitative risk assessment are generally performed based on toxicity data. In addition, inhalation toxicity data-based no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) and benchmark dose (BMD) are estimated to obtain the OEL. Three different estimation processes (NEDO in Japan, NIOSH in USA, and Baytubes in Germany) of OELs for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were intensively reviewed. From the rat inhalation toxicity test for MWCNTs manufactured in Korea, a NOAEL of $0.98mg/m^3$ was derived. Using the simple equation for estimation of OEL suggested by NEDO, the OEL of $142{\mu}g/m^3$ was estimated for the MWCNT manufacturing workplace. Here, we used test rat and Korean human data and adopted 36 as an uncertainty factor. The OEL for MWCNT estimated in this work is higher than those ($2-80{\mu}g/m^3$) suggested by previous investigators. It may be greatly caused by different physicochemical properties of MWCNT and their dispersion method and test rat data. For setting of regulatory OELs in CNT workplaces, further epidemiological studies in addition to animal studies are needed. More advanced technical methods such as CNT dispersion in air and liquid should be also developed.

• 청정기술
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.273-279
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• 2011

제조나노물질은 원료물질이 동일하더라도 제조방법에 따라 최종생산물의 물리화학적 특성은 매우 상이해질 수 있고 더불어 독성 또한 크게 달라질 수 있을 것으로 추정되고 있다. 본 연구에서 우리는 2종의 탄소나노튜브(단층벽 탄소나노튜브 및 다층벽 탄소나노튜브)를 마우스에 경구와 경기관지로 처리한 후 체중당 상대무게 및 염증반응 지표를 조사함으로써 길이와 전기전도성에 따른 독성을 동정하였다. 실험 결과, 다층벽 탄소나노튜브의 경우 체중 감소는 길이가 짧은 그룹에서 더 강하게 관찰된 반면, 염증 반응은 비교적 길이가 긴 그룹에서 더 강하게 유도되었다. 경기관지로 처리된 단층벽 탄소나노튜브는 뇌와 신장의 상대무게를 의미있게 감소시켰고, 기관지 세척액과 혈액 내 면역세포의 의미있는 변화는 처리 후 1일과 7일에서 주로 관찰되었다. 이 결과를 통해 길이, 입경, 층벽의 수와 같은 탄소나노튜브의 물리화학적 특성이 물질에 의한 독성과 염증 반응에 매우 중요한 인자로 작용하고 있음을 확인할 수 있었다.