Nanotechnology and Manufactured Nanomaterials: Environment, Health and Safety Issues

REINER ARNDT, UNITAR

Nanometer – World of Atoms and Molecules

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~10-

10m

~ 10-1m

12756 km ~10 8m

1 Nanometer = 1 part in a billion

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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4© 2008 – All rights reserved to THE INNOVATION SOCIETY, St.Gallen / Christoph Meili

Nanomaterials provide better functionality

Food, Cosmetics

Construction

Coatings Energy

Applications

Nanotube Elektrode

IT

Materials AnalyticsMilitary Medicine

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)

© 2008 – All rights reserved to THE INNOVATION SOCIETY, St.Gallen / Christoph Meili

Source: www.nanotechproject.org

Exposure to nanoparticles and related hazards

Uptake routes for nanoparticles:

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Nanoparticles

Nose

Lung Skin GI-Tract

Blood

DegenerativeChanges

Bone Marrow Spleen WallBlood Vessels

Liver Heart PlacentaFetus

Brain

Brain

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

© 2008 – All rights reserved to THE INNOVATION SOCIETY, St.Gallen / Christoph Meili

„Magic Nano“

Bath sealent chemical

> 100 intoxications (oedema)

Product recall (Penny-Market)

Contained NO nanoparticles

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Problems 2

© 2008 – All rights reserved to THE INNOVATION SOCIETY, St.Gallen / Christoph Meili

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

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Problems 3

© 2008 – All rights reserved to THE INNOVATION SOCIETY, St.Gallen / Christoph Meili

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

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 require- ment, 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 nano- particles (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?17

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!