Nanotechnology and
Manufactured Nanomaterials:
Environment, Health and Safety
Issues
REINER ARNDT, UNITAR
Nanometer – World of Atoms and Molecules
1 Nanometer
= 1 part in a billion
12756 km
~10 8m
~ 10-1m
~10-10m
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Relevance of the issue
• Nanotechnology is an enabling technology that is
expected to result in innovations across many industry
sectors. First products are already on the market
• It is important that all stakeholders concerned engage in
discussions to identify and address policy issues (e.g.
health, environmental, safety, moral, ethical, societal,
legal and social utility concerns)
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Nanomaterials provide better functionality
Energy
Food,
Cosmetics
Coatings
IT
Applications
Nanotube Elektrode
Military
Construction
Materials
Analytics
Medicine
© 2008 – All rights reserved to THE INNOVATION SOCIETY, St.Gallen / Christoph Meili
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Manufactured Nanomaterials: Description
• manufactured: intentionally produced versus
unintentionally released (incidental: welding fumes,
diesel soot)
• nanoscale: typically between 1 and 100 nm in at
least one dimension
• new materials and old materials (carbon black) with new
properties
• new chemicals (fullerenes), existing chemicals (TiO2)
• problematic: nanofibers/tubes (nanorods) and
nanoparticles (in two or three dimensions less than
100 nm), aggregates (definition/stability)
• little solubility (in solution loss of nano characteristics)
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Consumer products (major materials)
Source: www.nanotechproject.org
© 2008 – All rights reserved to THE INNOVATION SOCIETY, St.Gallen / Christoph Meili
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Exposure to nanoparticles and related hazards
Uptake routes for nanoparticles:
Nanoparticles
Brain
Nose
Lung
Skin GI-Tract
Blood
Brain Bone Marrow Spleen
Wall
Liver
Blood Vessels
Heart
Placenta
Fetus
Degenerative
Changes
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Nanoparticles: Exposure
Information on Exposure for man and environment:
• Which nanoparticles are released and lead to relevant
direct/indirect exposure (production, use, life cycle) ?
• How to measure relevant parameters (mass
concentration, surface, volume, particle number)?
• How to estimate exposures?
• How to develop an easy and low-cost measurement
technique including personal sampling?
• What is an efficient measurement strategy?
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Nanoparticles: Hazard and Risk
Information on hazard and risk:
• What effects are induced by nanoparticles for example via
inhalation and dermal contact or in the environment?
• What is/are the relevant effect parameter(s) (mass, surface,
volume, particle number) ?
• Is the effect of nanoparticles comparable to fine dust, but different
in potency ?
• Nanomaterials having specific properties may require a different
classification and labelling compared to the bulk material.
• How to assess agglomerates and aggregates ?
• What is an appropriate test and risk assessment strategy?
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Problems 1
„Magic Nano“
Bath sealent chemical
> 100 intoxications
(oedema)
Product recall (PennyMarket)
 Contained NO
nanoparticles
© 2008 – All rights reserved to THE INNOVATION SOCIETY, St.Gallen / Christoph Meili
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Problems 2
Skin cream with fullerenes (C60)
Cream with
fullerenes (antiox.)
(30 ml = 266 US$)
Fullerenes were
found to be
neurotoxic in fish
 NGOs are calling
for strict regulation
of cosmetics
© 2008 – All rights reserved to THE INNOVATION SOCIETY, St.Gallen / Christoph Meili
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Problems 3
Nano-Silver washing machine (SAMSUNG)
Antibacterial effect of silver
ions in the washing
machine
Silver lasts for over 3000
wash processes (10 years)
 Environmental NGOs are
calling for pest declaration
of silver at the EPA
© 2008 – All rights reserved to THE INNOVATION SOCIETY, St.Gallen / Christoph Meili
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Nanoparticles: Risk Management
Information on risk management:
• Is the present framework for data generation,
information collection, hazard and risk assessment
sufficient to manage nanoparticles safely?
• Are the present protective measures for fine dust also
effective for nanoparticles ? What else is needed?
• How to develop good working practices while having
insufficient information on effects (precaution)?
• What risk mitigation strategies are already applied?
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Nanoparticles: Communication
Information on communicaion:
• How to involve all interested parties and stakeholders ?
• How to inform the public about the technical,
economical and social impact of nanotechnology?
• How to inform the user about the uses of nanomaterials,
their benefits, their risks and the uncertainty of the
risks?
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Responsibilities for Sound management of
chemicals: Nanomaterials
Producer/Exporting Countries
- Generation of information (hazard)
- Risk assessments, Risk management
- Information on classification/labeling C/L, safety
data sheets SDS, risk assessments, risk
management options, bans/restrictions
User/Importing Countries
- Awareness raising (hazard, risk, C/L SDS)
- Make information available
- implement regulatory framework for safe use
- Implementation, Enforcement (resources)
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National work for SMC of Nanomaterials 1
- Are nanomaterials in my country: where, which uses?
- Are the nanomaterials:
nanoparticles, mixtures of nanoparticles or articles containing
materials with nanostructures
- How can I get this information (survey, notification requirement, nanospecific label) and relevant information on risks?
- What is the type and size of the problem in my country?
- Who in my country is responsible for R&D and who is
responsible for the safety of nanomaterials?
- With whom do I cooperate in my country for SMC(Nano)?
- How to achieve synergies with other SMC activities?
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National work for SMC of Nanomaterials 2
- How are developed countries addressing the problem of
potential risks of nanoparticles science/regulation?
- What is done on the international level (SAICM, IOMC)?
- What is the present regulatory frame work for industrial
chemicals in my country? Is it sufficient to control the risks
from nanoparticles?
- Is a specific regulatory framework needed for nanoparticles (within SMC or separate) for what problems?
- What voluntary activities are in practice or under
consideration (advisory body, code of practice,
exposure/risk mitigation, nanospecific SDS, ..)?
- How do I raise awareness and involve the stakeholders?
- What do I require from producers or importers?
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Technical information needs for SMC of Nano
- List of nanomaterials/nanoparticles in international trade
- Main uses of such nanomaterials/nanoparticles, in which
industry branches?
- Possible exposures and health risks/environmental risks:
toxicology, environment effects (new unknown effects or
known effects expected?)
Access to studies and expertise for interpretation
- Monitoring methods and instruments for consumer/worker
and environment exposure
- Proper waste treatment, control transboundary movement
- Code of practice for safe use of worker, consumer and
environment (applying precaution)
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Benefits of Nanomaterials
Information on benefits of Nanomaterials:
• Proven benefits for the man and/or environment (for
example less toxic, less waste, longer duration, energy
efficient, resource/material efficient, cleaning of
contaminated water, remediation efficient,
environmental sensors)
• Proven sustainability of nano based product compared
to conventional products over the whole life cycle
• Competitive on the market
• Availability, accessibility
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Thank you!