title: Carbon black vs. black carbon and other airborne materials containing elemental carbon: physical and chemical distinctions.
abstract: Airborne particles containing elemental carbon (EC) are currently at the forefront of scientific and regulatory scrutiny, including black carbon, carbon black, and engineered carbon-based nanomaterials, e.g., carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, and graphene. Scientists and regulators sometimes group these EC-containing particles together, for example, interchangeably using the terms carbon black and black carbon despite one being a manufactured product with well-controlled properties and the other being an undesired, incomplete-combustion byproduct with diverse properties. In this critical review, we synthesize information on the contrasting properties of EC-containing particles in order to highlight significant differences that can affect hazard potential. We demonstrate why carbon black should not be considered a model particle representative of either combustion soots or engineered carbon-based nanomaterials. Overall, scientific studies need to distinguish these highly different EC-containing particles with care and precision so as to forestall unwarranted extrapolation of properties, hazard potential, and study conclusions from one material to another.
authors.affiliation: Gradient, 20 University Road, Suite 5, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. clong@gradientcorp.com
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nascarella
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Valberg
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D053260:Soot / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D037741:Fullerenes; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D053260:Soot; D002244:Carbon
keywords: Black carbon; Carbon black; Elemental carbon; Nanomaterial; Soot