Carbon nanotubes: An international working group at IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) has assessed evidence concerning possible cancer effects of carbon nanotubes. They concluded that for most carbon nanotubes and for all single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) there is currently inadequate data to draw conclusions, but that for one type of multiple walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT-7) animal experimental data justifies classification as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2B).
Chemicals in textiles: A report by KEMI (Swedish Chemicals Agency) looks at chemicals in textiles, estimating that around 2 400 chemicals are used in textiles, of which around 10% are considered to be of “potential” concern for human health and around 5% of “potential” concern for the environment. The chemicals principally targeted by the report are azo dyes and fragrances. A range of flame retardants are also identified, principally on the basis of hazard classifications, but the relevance and possible risk in textiles remains to be clarified.
“Carcinogenicity of fluoro-edenite, silicon carbide fibres and whiskers, and carbon nanotubes”, Y. Grosse et al., The Lancet 2014 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(14)71109-X
“Chemicals in textiles – Risks to human health and the environment”, KEMI (Swedish Chemicals Agency) 2014 http://chemicalwatch.com/21397/sweden-flags-up-hazardous-substances-in-textiles and report http://www.kemi.se/Documents/Publikationer/Trycksaker/Rapporter/Report6-14-Chemicals-in-textiles.pdf