Brown University researchers warn of the dangers of graphene’s jagged edges. On the other hand, a team from the University of California also warns that graphene oxide moves smoothly through water. Both side effects put the environment at risk

Be aware!

We are still toying with graphene, the material of the future that stands out for being incredibly light, strong, flexible and highly conductive, both for heat and electricity. The substance with almost magical properties, on whose shoulders rest the hopes of manufacturers for the near future, turns out to be harmful to the environment and, consequently, to human beings.

Researchers at Brown University and the University of California warn of the dangers of graphene: they have discovered that the oxide of this material, a residue that is generated when the material is exposed to air, moves smoothly through water. They also warn of the dangers of the jagged edges of the material. Read here

Good to know

The team of biologists, engineers and scientists at Brown University have thoroughly examined the potential toxicity of graphene in human cells. They found that the jagged edges of the material can easily puncture cell membranes and skin, suggesting the possibility of serious harm to humans and other animals.

“These materials can be inhaled voluntarily or involuntarily,” says Robert Hurt, professor of engineering and one of the study’s authors, “so we want to understand how this graphene oxide interacts with cells once inside the body.”

Final note

Another of the dangers of graphene is pointed out by the University of California, where they studied how graphene oxide nanoparticles can also interact with the environment. The team found that in groundwater sources, where there is little organic material and the water has a high degree of hardness, the graphene oxide nanoparticles tended to be less stable and disappear.

But in surface waters such as lakes or rivers, where there is more organic matter and less hardness, the particles remain much more stable, showing a tendency to travel farther.