Farming algae for gas and oil production? Link at the bottom of the
page.
It's "outside the box" thinking like this that may one day fall on a
concept that utilizes energy production in parallel with the Earths
ecosystems instead of agaist them. Maybe captive ponds would give
better insurance to not disrupt current environs, with the possibilty
of hydro-electric being generated with any of the fall/movement of
waters.
In a microcosm take the bayous of our areas. It has taken an immense
amount of energy and materials to corral and direct natural/flood
waters thru the city yet, there is no thought of using that moving
water to generate energy back into our system. While working with TPWD
& Harris Co. Flood Control to give natural areas considerations think
of the output given our heavy storms and runoff? Small micro-
generating plants at flood control gates, every existing structure
that crosses the bayous(bridges/spillways). I think our rainfall total
this year is around 53 inches, multiply that against what COULD have
been generated? I realize it is not an answer to total energy
independence but it may add to what we need. Another part of the
answer. Just a science fiction day dream of what could be achieved if
scientists are looking at growing algae for oil/gas.
Any thoughts on the reality of this out there?
11/1/07 barrel of crude 96.00 and counting......Bill


http://motoring.reuters.co.uk/reuters/vocmain.jsp?lnk=101&id=2432

Hi William,

A professor at the University of Hawaii is working on a similar
project.  Essentially they would use CO2 emissions from existing
plants to 'grow' the algae (pond scum) and mix with sunlight.  Here
is a link for Professor Fu's project.  It is very interesting.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/May/12/ln/FP705120347.h
tml/?print=on

Thanks for sending us a great link!

--- In hreg@yahoogroups.com, "William" <stangfam@...> wrote:
>
> Farming algae for gas and oil production? Link at the bottom of the
> page.
> It's "outside the box" thinking like this that may one day fall on
a
> concept that utilizes energy production in parallel with the Earths
> ecosystems instead of agaist them. Maybe captive ponds would give
> better insurance to not disrupt current environs, with the
possibilty
> of hydro-electric being generated with any of the fall/movement of
> waters.
> In a microcosm take the bayous of our areas. It has taken an
immense
> amount of energy and materials to corral and direct natural/flood
> waters thru the city yet, there is no thought of using that moving
> water to generate energy back into our system. While working with
TPWD
> & Harris Co. Flood Control to give natural areas considerations
think
> of the output given our heavy storms and runoff? Small micro-
> generating plants at flood control gates, every existing structure
> that crosses the bayous(bridges/spillways). I think our rainfall
total
> this year is around 53 inches, multiply that against what COULD
have
> been generated? I realize it is not an answer to total energy
> independence but it may add to what we need. Another part of the
> answer. Just a science fiction day dream of what could be achieved
if
> scientists are looking at growing algae for oil/gas.
> Any thoughts on the reality of this out there?
> 11/1/07 barrel of crude 96.00 and counting......Bill
>
>
> http://motoring.reuters.co.uk/reuters/vocmain.jsp?lnk=101&id=2432
>

Sat. Nov. 3, Sugar Land, TX
12:00PM to 02:30PM

Sign up here for the Sugar Land meeting.
http://events.stepitup2007.org/november/events/show/2300

Event Description:
We are going to eat and meet at Madras Pavilion in Sugarland (16260
Kensington Dr.--59 and Hwy. 6 southwest from Houston). Congressman
Nick Lampson will talk about Global Warming and what he is working on
to combat it. The group will eat first then delve into environmental
plus energy concerns for the near and not so near future.

Location: Kensington Blvd

Directions:
From downtown Houston, go out toward Victoria on 59 and exit Hwy. 6.
Go north on 6 until Kensington Drive. Turn left and look for the
large Indian food restaurant--Madras Pavilion.



Dear Friends--

We're two days away from the largest day of climate action in
American history.  All is mildly controlled chaos here Step It Up
headquarters: we're juggling media, phoning Capitol Hill, revising
websites, and more.  It's good fun, and it's working -- as of this
morning, 60 Congresspeople and Senators had committed to participate
in events on Saturday.

That's simply amazing -- and it's because you've invited them,
because they know you'll be out on Saturday, because they can feel
your growing impatience for real action that meets the challenge we
face.

In these last three days we want to ask you to join us in a little
last-minute organizing.

Please email your friends and ask them to join you at the rally on
Saturday. This is a chance to get in on the ground floor of a
historic movement, and no one should miss out.  Click here to tell
your friends.

And please call the local paper, the local NPR and commercial radio
stations, the local bureau of the Associated Press, the local tv
channels. Just call the switchboard. These people want tips from
their readers and listeners about what news matters -- let them know
that there's something important happening on Saturday.  Click here
for media resources on the website.

And then? And then enjoy the heck out of your gathering on Saturday.
Enjoy the community around you.  Enjoy being a player in our
political system.  Enjoy the sense that you're making a real,
palpable difference on the biggest issue our planet faces.

At some point, one of the organizers will pull out a camera for a big
group shot.  Smile and wave!  And bring along your own camera or
videocamera to make sure the event is documented from all angles --
there will be instructions for how to submit photos and videos from
your event on the new version of the website this Saturday.  We'll be
showing the results to every politician we can find, and hundreds of
college students have volunteered to hand-deliver them to
congressional offices Monday morning.  And the new website on
Saturday evening will allow you to see yourselves as one piece in a
great national quilt.

So many thanks for stepping up to this challenge!

The StepItUp2007.org Team -
Bill, Ian, Jamie, Jason, Jon, Kelly, Lauren, Lindsey, May, Phil, and
Will

And there was the article about algae in West Texas from a recent HouChron see:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/5195599.html

Ariel
- We are all Human beings here together.  We have to help one another, since
otherwise there is NO ONE who will help.
- All countries need a NO REGRETS strategic energy policy.  Think ahead 7
generations.
------------------------------------

> Hi William,
>
> A professor at the University of Hawaii is working on a similar
> project.  Essentially they would use CO2 emissions from existing
> plants to 'grow' the algae (pond scum) and mix with sunlight.  Here  is a link
> for Professor Fu's project.  It is very interesting.
>
> http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/May/12/ln/FP705120347.h
> tml/?print=on
>
> Thanks for sending us a great link!
>
> --- In hreg@yahoogroups.com, "William" <stangfam@...> wrote:
>>
>> Farming algae for gas and oil production? Link at the bottom of the  page.
>> It's "outside the box" thinking like this that may one day fall on
> a
>> concept that utilizes energy production in parallel with the Earths
>> ecosystems instead of agaist them. Maybe captive ponds would give  better
>> insurance to not disrupt current environs, with the
> possibilty
>> of hydro-electric being generated with any of the fall/movement of  waters.
>> In a microcosm take the bayous of our areas. It has taken an
> immense
>> amount of energy and materials to corral and direct natural/flood  waters
>> thru the city yet, there is no thought of using that moving  water to
>> generate energy back into our system. While working with
> TPWD
>> & Harris Co. Flood Control to give natural areas considerations
> think
>> of the output given our heavy storms and runoff? Small micro-
>> generating plants at flood control gates, every existing structure  that
>> crosses the bayous(bridges/spillways). I think our rainfall
> total
>> this year is around 53 inches, multiply that against what COULD
> have
>> been generated? I realize it is not an answer to total energy
>> independence but it may add to what we need. Another part of the  answer.
>> Just a science fiction day dream of what could be achieved
> if
>> scientists are looking at growing algae for oil/gas.
>> Any thoughts on the reality of this out there?
>> 11/1/07 barrel of crude 96.00 and counting......Bill
>>
>>
>> http://motoring.reuters.co.uk/reuters/vocmain.jsp?lnk=101&id=2432

----- Original Message -----

From: Ariel Thomann

To: hreg@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 5:10 PM

Subject: Re: [hreg] Re: UK's theory on growing biofuels w/ocean algae

And there was the article about algae in West Texas from a recent HouChron see:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/5195599.html

Ariel
- We are all Human beings here together. We have to help one another, since
otherwise there is NO ONE who will help.
- All countries need a NO REGRETS strategic energy policy. Think ahead 7
generations.
------------------------------------

> Hi William,
>
> A professor at the University of Hawaii is working on a similar
> project. Essentially they would use CO2 emissions from existing
> plants to 'grow' the algae (pond scum) and mix with sunlight. Here is a link
> for Professor Fu's project. It is very interesting.
>
> http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/May/12/ln/FP705120347.h
> tml/?print=on
>
> Thanks for sending us a great link!
>
> --- In hreg@yahoogroups.com, "William" <stangfam@...> wrote:
>>
>> Farming algae for gas and oil production? Link at the bottom of the page.
>> It's "outside the box" thinking like this that may one day fall on
> a
>> concept that utilizes energy production in parallel with the Earths
>> ecosystems instead of agaist them. Maybe captive ponds would give better
>> insurance to not disrupt current environs, with the
> possibilty
>> of hydro-electric being generated with any of the fall/movement of waters.
>> In a microcosm take the bayous of our areas. It has taken an
> immense
>> amount of energy and materials to corral and direct natural/flood waters
>> thru the city yet, there is no thought of using that moving water to
>> generate energy back into our system. While working with
> TPWD
>> & Harris Co. Flood Control to give natural areas considerations
> think
>> of the output given our heavy storms and runoff? Small micro-
>> generating plants at flood control gates, every existing structure that
>> crosses the bayous(bridges/spillways). I think our rainfall
> total
>> this year is around 53 inches, multiply that against what COULD
> have
>> been generated? I realize it is not an answer to total energy
>> independence but it may add to what we need. Another part of the answer.
>> Just a science fiction day dream of what could be achieved
> if
>> scientists are looking at growing algae for oil/gas.
>> Any thoughts on the reality of this out there?
>> 11/1/07 barrel of crude 96.00 and counting......Bill
>>
>>
>> http://motoring.reuters.co.uk/reuters/vocmain.jsp?lnk=101&id=2432

I had to go to http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4438360 to find it.

 

Might save everyone from doing a search.

 

A Google search for "algae fuel Boeing " gives 143,000 hits. Aircraft companies would go out of business without fuel so alternate sources are getting a lot of attention. This is a good time for anyone who can find a more efficient algae or a better method of growing it.

 

Ed Sarlls

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Ariel Thomann

To: hreg@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 5:10 PM

>>
>> http://motoring.reuters.co.uk/reuters/vocmain.jsp?lnk=101&id=2432

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

I will be out of the office starting Saturday November 3rd and returning
Thursday November 8th. I will be checking my emails while out of the office but
if you need immediate assistance please contact the office at 281-340-1224 or
you may contact me on my cell phone at 281-960-8979.

Thanks,

Kevin Conlin

They could be; I'm concerned about the law of unintended consequences.

Ariel
- We are all Human beings here together.  We have to help one another, since
otherwise there is NO ONE who will help.
- All countries need a NO REGRETS strategic energy policy.  Think ahead 7
generations.
------------------------------------

> I read in the newspaper that nano technologies could be a problem because the
> chips that they use are so small they could be ingested or breathed in. Does
> anyone know anything about this?
>  __________________________________________________

----- Original Message -----

From: evelyn sardina

To: hreg

Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 11:11 AM

Subject: [hreg] nano technologies

I read in the newspaper that nano technologies could be a problem because the chips that they use are so small they could be ingested or breathed in. Does anyone know anything about this?

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

I have limited knowledge of these studies but have been reading alot
of interesting advancements in Nanotechnology through the
newscientist.com site and ocean.com site. As humans we are capable
of some pretty unbelievable technologies!!

http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/nanotechnology
http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/nanotechnology/dn1248
0-nanotubes-turn-paper-into-a-power-source.html







--- In hreg@yahoogroups.com, "Bashir Syed" <bsyed@...> wrote:
>
> I will explain this matter by tonight, as I have jointly published
two papers in Transaction of Nuclear Science/IEEE (Prairie View A&M
University and SAIC Advanced Technologies Group/NASA-JSC
>
>   __________________________________________________
>   Do You Yahoo!?
>   Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
>   http://mail.yahoo.com
>

Y’all – I just got a call from the Chronicle.

They had run an article last Friday that irked my water consciousness.  The URL
for their article was:
http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4453835 which I presume
all of you can retrieve (let me know if you can’t).

Tomorrow, the Chronicle will run the following which I submitted earlier today:

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Concerning the November 2nd article “Counting Vote Won’t Take Long / Two hold
key to $ 2.5 billion water pipeline in Panhandle”, I was surprised to find no
mention of how the proposed water sales will affect the Ogallala Aquifer itself,
and people who depend upon it.

The Ogallala is a “fossil” aquifer, under basically waterproof ground: it is not
significantly recharged by snowmelt or rain water.  Its water has been there for
eons.  It is already being depleted at a frightening rate.  New, deeper
irrigation wells are a daily burden for farmers, who must buy ever-larger pumps
to raise water to the surface.  Many are switching from corn to cotton which
takes less water.  And the country is eager to grow more corn!

Mister Pickens should spend his money educating the Metroplex on water
conservation, and NOT sacrifice the future of the American “cereal belt” for a
quick profit.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

I had passed my letter by the Ogallala hydrologist I know up yonder.  He passed
on writing them himself for the proper bureaucratic reasons.  I must admit that
he did not actually “endorse” what I wrote, but neither did he discourage me.
Oh, well – now we’ll see if gets any kind of response from the wider readership.

Ariel
- We are all Human beings here together.  We have to help one another, since
otherwise there is NO ONE who will help.
- All countries need a NO REGRETS strategic energy policy.  Think ahead 7
generations.
------------------------------------

----- Original Message -----

From: Ariel Thomann

To: ajthomann@...

Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 7:25 PM

Subject: [hreg] Houston Chronicle letter

Y’all – I just got a call from the Chronicle.

They had run an article last Friday that irked my water consciousness. The URL
for their article was:
http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4453835 which I presume
all of you can retrieve (let me know if you can’t).

Tomorrow, the Chronicle will run the following which I submitted earlier today:

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Concerning the November 2nd article “Counting Vote Won’t Take Long / Two hold
key to $ 2.5 billion water pipeline in Panhandle”, I was surprised to find no
mention of how the proposed water sales will affect the Ogallala Aquifer itself,
and people who depend upon it.

The Ogallala is a “fossil” aquifer, under basically waterproof ground: it is not
significantly recharged by snowmelt or rain water. Its water has been there for
eons. It is already being depleted at a frightening rate. New, deeper
irrigation wells are a daily burden for farmers, who must buy ever-larger pumps
to raise water to the surface. Many are switching from corn to cotton which
takes less water. And the country is eager to grow more corn!

Mister Pickens should spend his money educating the Metroplex on water
conservation, and NOT sacrifice the future of the American “cereal belt” for a
quick profit.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

I had passed my letter by the Ogallala hydrologist I know up yonder. He passed
on writing them himself for the proper bureaucratic reasons. I must admit that
he did not actually “endorse” what I wrote, but neither did he discourage me.
Oh, well – now we’ll see if gets any kind of response from the wider readership.

Ariel
- We are all Human beings here together. We have to help one another, since
otherwise there is NO ONE who will help.
- All countries need a NO REGRETS strategic energy policy. Think ahead 7
generations.
------------------------------------

considering ethanol needs  5 gallons of fresh water to produce 1 gallon of corn juice, I don't think an oil man is interested in all cotton pajamas.

----- Original Message -----

From: Ariel Thomann

To: ajthomann@pol.net

Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 7:25 PM

Subject: [hreg] Houston Chronicle letter

Y’all – I just got a call from the Chronicle.

They had run an article last Friday that irked my water consciousness. The URL
for their article was:
http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4453835 which I presume
all of you can retrieve (let me know if you can’t).

Tomorrow, the Chronicle will run the following which I submitted earlier today:

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Concerning the November 2nd article “Counting Vote Won’t Take Long / Two hold
key to $ 2.5 billion water pipeline in Panhandle”, I was surprised to find no
mention of how the proposed water sales will affect the Ogallala Aquifer itself,
and people who depend upon it.

The Ogallala is a “fossil” aquifer, under basically waterproof ground: it is not
significantly recharged by snowmelt or rain water. Its water has been there for
eons. It is already being depleted at a frightening rate. New, deeper
irrigation wells are a daily burden for farmers, who must buy ever-larger pumps
to raise water to the surface. Many are switching from corn to cotton which
takes less water. And the country is eager to grow more corn!

Mister Pickens should spend his money educating the Metroplex on water
conservation, and NOT sacrifice the future of the American “cereal belt” for a
quick profit.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

I had passed my letter by the Ogallala hydrologist I know up yonder. He passed
on writing them himself for the proper bureaucratic reasons. I must admit that
he did not actually “endorse” what I wrote, but neither did he discourage me.
Oh, well – now we’ll see if gets any kind of response from the wider readership.

Ariel
- We are all Human beings here together. We have to help one another, since
otherwise there is NO ONE who will help.
- All countries need a NO REGRETS strategic energy policy. Think ahead 7
generations.
------------------------------------

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

----- Original Message -----

From: William

To: hreg@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 6:22 PM

Subject: [hreg] Re: nano technologies

I have limited knowledge of these studies but have been reading alot
of interesting advancements in Nanotechnology through the
newscientist.com site and ocean.com site. As humans we are capable
of some pretty unbelievable technologies!!

http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/nanotechnology
http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/nanotechnology/dn1248
0-nanotubes-turn-paper-into-a-power-source.html

--- In hreg@yahoogroups.com, "Bashir Syed" <bsyed@...> wrote:
>
> I will explain this matter by tonight, as I have jointly published
two papers in Transaction of Nuclear Science/IEEE (Prairie View A&M
University and SAIC Advanced Technologies Group/NASA-JSC
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>

Greetings,
I have never used any kind of auto responder, so I wouldn't have a clue
what to do with this.  Does anyone on the list know how to deal with
this situation?
Bright Blessings,
Kim

Kevin Conlin wrote:
> HREG moderator, can you tell me how to avoid auto responding to the hreg
> posts?
>
>
>
> I apologize, I didn’t anticipate this happening.
>
>

I will be out of the office starting Saturday November 3rd and returning
Thursday November 8th. I will be checking my emails while out of the office but
if you need immediate assistance please contact the office at 281-340-1224 or
you may contact me on my cell phone at 281-960-8979.

Thanks,

Kevin Conlin

It took a very long time for the world to recognize the dangers of that
wonderful, ultimate inert substance, asbestos (of course, it took the longest in
the US).  And asbestos doesn't go beyond the lungs (OK, it does work its way out
a little bit).

Where does nanostuff go once it's introduced into a living being?  Does anyone
know what it can do?  Again, beware of unintended consequences.

Ariel
- We are all Human beings here together.  We have to help one another, since
otherwise there is NO ONE who will help.
- All countries need a NO REGRETS strategic energy policy.  Think ahead 7
generations.
------------------------------------

> You are right about interesting and important developments. When one works
> with raw-carbon nanotubes, one has to be extremely careful not to inhale
> anythning of that small dimentions. These things can lodge within lungs and
> can complicate functioning of lings because of toxicity. But in finished
> products nano-materials do not cause such problems. Just to give an example,
> certain conducting polymers do exhibit Phtovoltaic property to convert light
> photons into electrons, but the conversion efficiency is very small compared
> to Silicon, and was found to be of the order of about 3%, while that of Slicon
> PV Cells is about 16%. scientists used carbon  nanotubes and made a composite
> material, that has an efficiency of between 10-13 %.  After cecking my mail, I
> found my copy of PHYSICS TODAY in today's mail, and found three articles on
> Nano-technology, which an inquisitive mind can check on the following website:
> www.physicstoday.org These articles deal with following subjects: 1. Boron
> Nanotubes (page 20).
> 2. Sandia National Lab heads up new nano-engineering institute.
> 3. Nanotech risk research yakes slow step forward.
>
> Bashir A. Syed.
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: William
>   To: hreg@yahoogroups.com
>   Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 6:22 PM
>   Subject: [hreg] Re: nano technologies
>
>
>
>   I have limited knowledge of these studies but have been reading alot  of
> interesting advancements in Nanotechnology through the
>   newscientist.com site and ocean.com site. As humans we are capable  of some
> pretty unbelievable technologies!!
>
>   http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/nanotechnology
>   http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/nanotechnology/dn1248
> 0-nanotubes-turn-paper-into-a-power-source.html
>
>   --- In hreg@yahoogroups.com, "Bashir Syed" <bsyed@...> wrote:
>   >
>   > I will explain this matter by tonight, as I have jointly published
>   two papers in Transaction of Nuclear Science/IEEE (Prairie View A&M
> University and SAIC Advanced Technologies Group/NASA-JSC
>   >
>   > __________________________________________________
>   > Do You Yahoo!?
>   > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>   >
>
>
>
>

Asbestos fibers are not actually tubes but tightly rolled sheets of
molecules in a crystal lattice.  Both the particle size and the
exposed atoms at the edge of the roll probably contribute to the
latent carcinogenicity of the materials.  Carbon nanotubes are more
likely to cause ailments related to fine dusts but those diseases only
occur with gross exposures over long periods and this is unlikely
except where they are being manufactured.  If nanotubes ever are
manufactured in quantity then end of life considerations will
certainly be relevant.

There is a very interesting article in Science and Spirit mag. about
the concept of thinking small to create large. I find it encouraging
that we are at the frontier of the very very small  and building from
the "bottom-up" as opposed to breaking large matter down into smaller
and smaller pieces. So much has been taken apart without the knowledge
to put the parts back together. A good point that the article
makes, "Every biological and mineral system builds bottom-up...by the
thermodynamic release of energy,..." From what I have read about the
shift  in perspective regarding the Human Genome Project, where
molecular machines and cellular structures are appearing more like
computers than  blueprints for the construction of proteins, it would
seem logical that our technology and our human nature would be forced
eventually to partner-up. Perhaps logic and nature's self-correcting
systems will find a way for us to dream big on a small scale. lisa h.

I have no idea, but on mine, you can set it to autorespond only once to a
given address, so presumably if he did that, the HREG list would only get
one autoresponse, which wouldn't be bad.

Robert

> -----Original Message-----
> From: hreg@yahoogroups.com [mailto:hreg@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
> Garth & Kim Travis
> Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 8:02 AM
> To: hreg@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: OT: technical problem was Re: [hreg] nano technologies
>
> Greetings,
> I have never used any kind of auto responder, so I wouldn't have a clue
> what to do with this.  Does anyone on the list know how to deal with
> this situation?
> Bright Blessings,
> Kim
>
> Kevin Conlin wrote:
> > HREG moderator, can you tell me how to avoid auto responding to the hreg
> > posts?
> >
> >
> >
> > I apologize, I didn't anticipate this happening.
> >
> >
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

I will be out of the office starting Saturday November 3rd and returning
Thursday November 8th. I will be checking my emails while out of the office but
if you need immediate assistance please contact the office at 281-340-1224 or
you may contact me on my cell phone at 281-960-8979.

Thanks,

Kevin Conlin

Yes, neither chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite or
actinolite are tubular.  Nor are they carbon.

Any number of chemically very different types of respirable dusts between 0.5
and 5 microns in size have a bad habit of lodging in pulmonary alveoli (larger
ones don't make it that far down, smaller ones are breathed back out).  If they
get trapped there, they can cause their respective pneumoconioses over the next
several decades.  Nanotubes are smaller by several orders of magnitude, so maybe
they get exhaled -- but, does anybody KNOW that?  Might they be adsorbed by the
moisture lining the alveoli?  If so, could they go through the alveaolar
capillariy walls and be distributed throughtout the body?  If so, what effect
will they have in what organs?  How long will it take before we have the answers
to these and other questions we don't even know how to ask yet?

Again, I'm not equating nanotubes with asbestos.  All I'm saying is -- beware of
unintended consequences.

Ariel
- We are all Human beings here together.  We have to help one another, since
otherwise there is NO ONE who will help.
- All countries need a NO REGRETS strategic energy policy.  Think ahead 7
generations.
------------------------------------

> Asbestos fibers are not actually tubes but tightly rolled sheets of  molecules
> in a crystal lattice.  Both the particle size and the
> exposed atoms at the edge of the roll probably contribute to the
> latent carcinogenicity of the materials.  Carbon nanotubes are more  likely to
> cause ailments related to fine dusts but those diseases only  occur with gross
> exposures over long periods and this is unlikely  except where they are being
> manufactured.  If nanotubes ever are
> manufactured in quantity then end of life considerations will
> certainly be relevant.

Robert - merci!  "Over and out" on this topic.

Ariel
- We are all Human beings here together.  We have to help one another, since
otherwise there is NO ONE who will help.
- All countries need a NO REGRETS strategic energy policy.  Think ahead 7
generations.
------------------------------------

> Ariel,
>
>
>
> This is not a new concept.  It has already been discussed for several years in
> the nanotech scientific community as well as among regulators.  I'm not part
> of that scientific community, but I read about it in Chemical & Engineering
> News regularly.  Many companies and universities working on nanotech have
> instituted strong safeguards using the precautionary principle since the
> hazards are not yet sufficiently known.  Rice University has done some of the
> work on the EH&S aspects of nanotubes.  While it is worthwhile to understand
> the risks, I think the leading researchers are well aware of the potential
> that exists.  I'm not sure it is something worth spending much time agonizing
> over here.  You are correct in pointing out that the hazard risk is very low
> once the nanoparticles or nanotubes are embedded in a matrix compound.
>
>
> Robert
>
>