Instrumentation and Metrology for Nanotechnology Grand Challenge Workshop
January 27-29, 2004
Instrumentation and Metrology for Nanotechnology:
The Relation to Environmental and Human Health Protection
Barbara Karn, US EPA, karn.Barbara@epa.gov
Metrology supports industry by enabling the benefits of new products and
processes to be measured and by stimulating new product development in
the instrument sector in addition to raising productivity through improved
process and quality control. Measurement also provides a foundation for a
wide range of public goods, including environmental and human health
protection.
So, how do instrumentation and metrology and the
environment specifically relate to one another? What is the importance of
instrumentation and metrology to environmental and human health
protection? What needs can instrumentation and metrology supply for
nanotechnology related to the environment? How do the nanotechnology
research goals for instrumentation and metrology and environmental
protection coincide? The answers to these questions can be discussed
under four topics that comprise metrology and the uses to which its results
are applied—written standards, scientific instrumentation, validated
measurement procedures, and measurement standards.
Protecting the environment relies on written standards. Limits are placed
on emission of pollutants; air, to be healthy, must meet certain standards;
both drinking water and surface waters have quality criteria; pollutants are
measured and controlled from landfills. Metrology is necessary to enable
the measurements that form the basis for deciding environmental
standards. Currently, there are no standards for nano-sized materials in
the environment. Particularly in the air, nano-sized particulate matter may
have an impact on human health. However, the inability to measure
ambient nanoparticulates quickly, inexpensively, and accurately severely
restrains research that would lead to intelligent standards for airborne
nanoparticles that might effect human health. Waterborne nanoparticles
may likewise need standards if they are found to be harmful to aquatic
organisms.
Scientific instrumentation is essential in examining nanoscale materials
and their interactions and impact on and in the environment. In addition to
the necessity for instruments that detect and characterize nanomaterials,
nanotechnology itself can form the basis for detection of other materials.
New instruments using massively parallel nanoscale sensor arrays could
enable more sensitive, highly selective detection of environmentally
important.analytes, including, both chemical compounds and biological
organisms such as algae, bacteria, or viruses. Instrumentation is needed
for monitoring nanomaterials in ambient environments in order to
determine the fate, transport and transformations of these substances.
Current metrology instrumentation for nanotechnology involves integrated
use of biological principles, physical laws, and chemical properties. These
three aspects are also integrated into environmental science, and any
furtherance of the integrative science will also further fundamental
research in the environment.
Validated measurement procedures are necessary for quality control in
monitoring and analyzing environmental samples. If emissions standards
are necessary, there must be reasonable means for effected industries and
organizations to measure nanoparticles for compliance requirements.
Measurement procedures also help the environment by increasing the
efficiency of manufacturing processes, thereby producing less waste that
could harm the environment.
Measurement standards are essential for research to proceed in
nanotechnology related to the environment. If there is no standardization,
there is no comparability among the numerous research laboratories
involved in examining nano-scale science and its relation to the
environment. Measurement standards are also needed for quality control
during monitoring.
The importance of measurement in the environment at the nanoscale was
discussed at last year’s workshop on Nanotechnology Grand Challenge in
the Environment. May 8-9, 2003. One of the five major discussion topics
was Nanotechnology Applications for Measurement in the Environment as
applied to sensors, monitors, models, separations, detection, fate and
transport, data gathering and dissemination. The vision statement of this
workshop group says:”The unique properties of nanoscale materials will
enable the development of a new generation of environmental sensing
systems. In addition, measurement science and technology will enable the
development of a comprehensive understanding of the interaction and fate
of natural and anthropogenic nanoscale and nanostructured materials in
the environment.”
Research needs were identified in five areas: (1) biological sensor
technologies that are sufficiently stable to allow detection in situ on a
continuous basis for high-density usage; (2) a general “array” for detection
of a wide variety of potential analytes; (3) information concerning the
diversity of chemical composition at the nanoparticles level, and the
transformations that occur and measurement techniques that distinguish
the chemical composition of particle surface layers from the particle
interior; (4) generic nanoscale assembly methods; and (5) advances in
spectroscopic instrument technologies that allow rapid detection of low
signal strength, while probing smaller volumes of a nanoparticulate
sample.
Measurement is fundamental to the progress and quality of all scientific
endeavors and engineering applications. It provides an underlying
foundation for research in environmental and human health protection.
Advances in metrology to both measure nanoscale materials and to use
nanotechnology in measurement goes hand in hand with advancing the
protection of the environment and human health.