First Approaches to Standard protocols and Reference Materials for the Assessment of Potential Hazards Associated with Nanomaterials

Gordon Chambers, Dublin Institute of Technology
Hugh Byrne, Dublin Institute of Technology
Iseult lynch, University College Dublin
Micheal Riediker, Institute for occupational safety and health, Augustin, Germany.
Hans Bouwmeester, 1) RIKILT – Institute of Food Safety, Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 230, 6700 AE Wageningen, The Netherlands
Hans Marvin, RIKILT – Institute of Food Safety, Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 230, 6700 AE Wageningen, The Netherlands
Alan Casey, Dublin Institute of Technology
Markus Berges, Institute for occupational safety and health
Martin Clift, institute of anatomy, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Teresa Fernandez, Edinburgh Napier University.
Lise Fjellsbo, Norwegian institute of air research
Lucienne Juillerat, Institut Universitare de Pathologie, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Gert Roebben, European Commission JRC, (RMM) Geel, Belgium.
Christoph Klein, European Commission JRC (HCP) Ispara, Italy.
Qinglan Wu, DNV Research and Innovation, Hovik, Norway.
Vince Hackley, National Institute of standards and technology, gaithersburg, MD 20899-8520. USA.
Jean-Pierre Kaiser, Materials science and technology (EMPA) St. Gallen, CH-9014, Switzerland.
Wolfganag Kreyling, Institute of lung biology and disease, Munich, Germany.
Michael Garner, External materials research, Santa Clara, California.
Peter Hatto, IonBond Ltd. UK
Kenneth Dawson, University College Dublin

Document Type Technical Report

NanoImpactNet Report, 2009

Abstract

All new technologies have an inherent risk, which is typically assessed alongside the development of applications of the technology. This is also the case for nanotechnology: a key concern in the case of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) is that due to their very small size, NMs can reach areas such as the cell that are inaccessible to other materials, such as implants and drugs. As a result of their large surface area, NMs may be more reactive than other larger materials. The large physical and chemical variability of NMs, and the fact that small changes can have large consequences, mean that there is insufficient data on which to make safety or risk assessments at present. Thus, a widely supported scientific basis and sufficient high quality data upon which to base regulatory decisions are required urgently. NanoImpactNet (NIN) can support the development and dissemination of such data. This report presents the outcome of the discussions of 60 experts in the field of safety assessment of manufactured NMs from academia, industry, government and non-profit organizations on some of the critical issues pertaining to the development of standard protocols and reference materials for assessment of the potential hazards associated with ENMs. It should be noted here that there was a separate NIN workshop on determining the best metrics for assessing NP safety, and that this workshop was directed specifically to how best to standardise testing protocols and develop reference materials for human health assessment.