Health and safety perspectives of graphene in wearables and hybrid materials

The growing demand for smart wearables, coupled with the omnipresence of graphene due to its array of outstanding thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties, have driven the industry-led initiatives to develop lightweight, smart, and robust graphene-based wearable technologies. The substantial research and the increase in technology readiness levels (TRLs) of graphene-based technologies have led to the adoption of graphene in many industries. Graphene-based wearables are one such technology that in-volves closer interaction of graphene by the end-user. Despite this, understanding the toxicological risks associated with using graphene-based wearables is still in the fundamental stage. Herein, graphene-based wearables and industrial-scale fabrication techniques for the development of graphene-based wearables are reviewed. The main goal of the review is to initially evaluate the likelihood of user exposure to graphene from the wearable device and the potential health effects. The subsequent health risks based on graphene's physicochemical characteristics are also discussed. A framework to elucidate the risk is presented in terms of crucial exposure routes, possible graphene interactions, recent exposure assess-ments, detection removal techniques from the human body, and risk management protocols. It is hoped that this review may aid towards establishing a reasonable practice concerning the safe integration of graphene materials into wearables and facilitate their commercialization. (c) 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

Automated summary

The growing demand for lightweight, smart, and robust graphene-based wearable technologies due to their outstanding thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties has led to substantial research and adoption in many industries. However, understanding the toxicological risks associated with using graphene-based wearables is still in the fundamental stage. This review evaluates the likelihood of user exposure to graphene and its potential health effects, as well as discusses relevant risk management protocols.