Studies have shown that carbon nanotubes in tennis rackets cause cancer, similiar to what you see with over exposure to asbestos, which leads to the deadly cancer known as mesothelioma. Researchers have suggested that "the government should restrict the use of the materials to protect human health", according to The Guardian.

Carbon nanotubes are strong, light cylindrical molecules of carbon that are used industrially to add strenght but not weight products. They are similiar in size and shape to certain asbestos particles, which can cause cuts in lungs, which leads to cancer.

The study in mice showed that long carbon nanotubes could cause inflammation of teh membrane which surrounds organs (the mesothelium), and this is similiar to what is seen with asbestos. Carbon nanotubes that are imbedded in other materials, like thaose in tennis rackets, car body panels and bike frames, are thought to be relatively harmless, but the researchers say further studies are needed to confirm this.

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