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Health and safety


On this page, we highlight the various fronts upon which the Graphene Flagship is investigating the effects of graphene and layered materials on health and safety.

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Graphene and layered materials have made an impact on many different fields, and new applications are emerging every day. So, as for all evolving technologies, it is crucial to consider their safety.

The Graphene Flagship studies the effects of these new materials on our health and the world around us in its Health and Environment Work Package. This group investigates whether graphene and layered materials pose any risks to our health and environment and, if so, how to mitigate them.

As part of this work Graphene Flagship researchers have released a comprehensive review article reporting on the current knowledge of the safety of graphene and layered materials with a detailed analysis of numerous biological interactions of graphene and layered materials. It can be accessed online here.

Lungs


Initial studies suggest that graphene is safe for long-term occupational exposure, but inhalation of graphene oxide should be avoided.

Biodegradation


Graphene is biodegradable by a human enzyme and research shows that graphene oxide biodegrades when ingested by zebrafish.

Skin


Graphene and layered materials made with non-irritant exfoliating agents do not irritate the skin, and Graphene Flagship research indicates that graphene does not cause inflammation.

Environmental models


More research is needed to fully determine the effect of graphene and layered materials on the wider environment, but studies are underway.

Graphene in medicines


There has been a lot of misinformation about the presence of graphene and related materials in vaccines and other medicinal products. This fact sheet unravels fact from fiction.

Graphene for Healthcare magazine cover

Graphene for Healthcare

Learn about how graphene and layered materials could breathe life to new biomedical technologies in our Graphene for Healthcare special edition mini-magazine.

 

Click here to read it for free!