Nano Risk Analysis: Advancing the Science for Nanomaterials Risk Management

Abstract

Scientists, activists, industry, and governments have raised concerns about health and environmental risks of nanoscale materials. The Society for Risk Analysis convened experts in September 2008 in Washington, DC to deliberate on issues relating to the unique attributes of nanoscale materials that raise novel concerns about health risks. This article reports on the overall themes and findings of the workshop, uncovering the underlying issues for each of these topics that become recurring themes. The attributes of nanoscale particles and other nanomaterials that present novel issues for risk analysis are evaluated in a risk analysis framework, identifying challenges and opportunities for risk analysts and others seeking to assess and manage the risks from emerging nanoscale materials and nanotechnologies. Workshop deliberations and recommendations for advancing the risk analysis and management of nanotechnologies are presented.

Occupational safety and health criteria for responsible development of nanotechnology

“…It is not enough to merely assess risks; it is important that employers, government agencies, and other stakeholder organizations communicate what is known about the risks (Shatkin et al 2010). Ideally, risk communication should be two-directional rather than one-directional (Ponce del Castillo 2013).…”

Respiratory epithelial cytotoxicity and membrane damage (holes) caused by amine-modified nanoparticles

“…Relatively little is understood of the reactivity and toxicity of engineered nanosubstances, which are being synthesized in numerous physicochemical formats but they are not routinely tested for toxicity before being manufactured into products for use on a daily basis (Li et al 2003). The importance of a systematic understanding of nanotoxicology relating physicochemical property of nano-size materials to their biological activity and toxicity has been stressed in previous seminal communications (Oberdörster et al 2005;Oberdörster 2010, Shatkin et al 2010. Inhalation of combustion-derived particles, and other particles (for example generated during mining, such as asbestos), have been discovered retrospectively to have adverse health effects related to their physicochemistry (Hart et al 1994;Miserocchi et al 2008).…”

Exposure Measurement at Workplaces

“…Since large particles acquire a higher charge level than small particles, the current stemming from inertial deposition of large particles on the diffusion stage would be misinterpreted as a high concentration of small particles. When the higher voltage is applied, small particles with high electrical mobility (see Eqn (2)) are also removed in the ESP and the electrometer measures a partial current only. The lowest concentration that can be detected is defined by the signal to noise ratio of the electrometers used for measuring the currents.…”