NanoTrust
Integrative Analysis of the State of Knowledge Regarding Health and Environmental Risks of Nanotechnology
Despite broad application in everyday products and materials, safety and security issues of nanotechnologies have hardly been the subject of research to this day. The NanoTrust project has been ongoing since 2007 and represents a publicly accessible information platform aiming to identify the most pressing issues.
Nanotechnology promises new or improved materials and products, e.g. in medicine, cosmetics, optics, or construction. In order to ensure the safe and sustainable development of nanotechnologies, NanoTrust collects, analyses and communicates the current state of knowledge on possible health and environmental risks for decision-makers and the interested public, thus contributing to the organisation of an exchange of knowledge.
The field of nanotechnology is gaining momentum in the context of the development of technology. However, aspects of safety and security have not been sufficiently explored yet to be able to predict the potential risks and dangers involved. At the same time, the public debate has steered towards a critical view, and could easily take a turn towards the negative implications involved.
In light of our experience with genetic engineering in agriculture, we need to have a forward-looking nanotechnology policy that builds upon deep and well-prepared analyses. Thus, there is a great need for more research about, and communication of, the subject.
Within NanoTrust 5 accompanying research on approaches to the regulation of nanotechnologies, as well as the security and risk research of the innovation area of the so-called “advanced materials”, is conducted. An important task includes the dissemination of research results within the framework of scientific technology assessment, as well as the critical reflection of the national and international regulatory activities and feedback to the relevant Austrian actors.
For the first time in Austria, these important aspects of technology development are being investigated in a systematic way rather than on the level of individual R&D projects. We aim at making transparent possible gaps in research and identifying the most pressing issues that need to be addressed. The findings will also have national relevance, as project-coordinator André Gazsó has recently been made chair of the Nano Information Commission of the Austrian Ministery of Health.
Further Information
If you would like to be informed about the latest NanoTrust activities and publications, you can subscribe to the NanoTrust Newsletter here: NanoTrust Newsletter (German)
Former NanoTrust researchers: Daniela Fuchs, Julia Haslinger, Ulrich Fiedeler, Myrtill Simkó
Dossiers
NanoTrust Dossiers – Results of the project "NanoTrust"
The team of the project NanoTrust offers on an irregular basis “Dossiers”, approximately three to six page summaries of the state of knowledge on current issues in the existing nano debate in an accessible language, but on a firm scientific base.
The NanoTrust Dossiers are published in german and english language and can be visited at EPUB.OEAW.
Events
Events
Within the framework of the project NanoTrust, we organise events of different kinds from conferences to special workshops; NanoTrust also contributes to conferences by third parties by organising special sessions.
Announcement:
- currently no events
Review:
- 12th NanoTrust Conference & ESG Think Tank
9th to 10th March 2020, Video from the conference with interviews - Workshop „Advanced Materials and Emerging Issues” in Co-operation with the National Institute of Material Science, Japan
- 8th October 2020 - Program (pdf)
- Workshop „Advanced Materials in der Kreislaufwirtschaft“ within the framework of the Nano-EHS-Projects „NanoAdd“
31th March 2019 - Program (pdf) - Workshop „Nachhaltige Innovation“ in Co-operation with the IASS, Potsdam
18th to 19th February 2019 - Program (pdf) - Workshop zu „Advanced Materials und Kreislaufwirtschaft“ in Kooperation mit TU Wien und KMUTT Bangkok
31th October 2018 - Programm (pdf), Expectations (pdf) - 11th NanoTrust Conference
30th October 2018, Vienna - 10th NanoTrust Conference – Birthday Party 10 Years NanoTrust
29th September 2017, Vienna - 9th NanoTrust-Tagung
18. November 2016, Wien - 8th NanoTrust Conference
Vienna, October 14th, 2015 - 7th NanoTrust Conference
Vienna, October 9th 2014 - Workshop/Symposion Converging Technologies
Vienna, May 27th 2014 - 6th NanoTrust Conference: "Toxikologie – Regulierung – Öffentlichkeit"
June 4th, 2013, Vienna - Special Session on "Nanosicherheit" at TA13
June 3rd, 2013, Vienna - 5th NanoTrust Conference - "Nanotechnologies & Workers' Safety"
December 7th, 2011, Vienna - 4th NanoTrust Conference - "Approaches to Risk Assessment and Risk Management of Nanotechnologies"
September 23th, 2010, Vienna - "Regulierung von Nanomaterialien - Verantwortlicher Umgang mit verbrauchernahen Produkten"
February 18th, 2010, Austrian Federal Ministry of Health, Radetzkystraße 2, Vienna - NANOTECH Informative Meeting:
"Nanotechnologie im Lichte der aktuellen Diskussion zu REACH und CLP"
Kindly supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth
November 12th, 2009, WKO/Room 7, Vienna - "NanoSoc: Approach and experiences of a Flemish pTA-project"
Marian Deblonde, Institute for the Environment and Sustainable Development (IMDO),
University of Antwerp (Belgium)
November 3rd, 2009, ITA, Vienna - "Seminar on Nanotechnology in Health and Medicine" (National Universitiy of Malaysia)
October 29th, 2009, UMBI (Medical Molecular Biology Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) - Forum "Nanotechnology: Evolution of Knowledge to Market"
October 28th, 2009, Academy of Science Malaysia - Conference "NANOtech Malaysia 2009"
October 28th, 2009, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (Malaysia) - OECD-Roundtable: "Communicating knowledge - communicating uncertainty regulatory requirements for science"
September 25th, 2009, Vienna - 3rd NanoTrust Conference: "Possible health effects of manufactured nanomaterials"
September 24th, 2009, Vienna - Nano09 (September, 6th-9th)
NanoTrust has organised an evening session on "Talking About Risks of Nanotechnologies: The State-of-the-Art and beyond"
Keynote speaker was Dr. Antje Grobe (Stiftung Risiko-Dialog).
September 7th, 2009, Vienna - Special workshop on EHS research needs
May 15th, 2009, ITA, Vienna - Viennano'09 Special session on health, environmental and security aspects of nanotechnologies
March 18th-20th, 2009, Techgate Vienna, Vienna - Nanotechnology the food sector
This event hostet by the Austrian Ministry of Health, AGES and ITA was part of the discussion on applications and consequences of nanotechnologies in the food sector,
October 27th, 2008 - BioNanoMed 2009
special session and a panel discussion on the regulation of environmental and health issues
January 26th-27th, 2009, Krems - Overview of nanotechnology-related activities of institutions in Austria
October 2nd, 2008, Vienna - 2nd NanoTrust Conference: "Nanotechnologies – The Present State of Regulation"
September 29th, 2008, Vienna - NTA3–TA'08 Conference: "Technology Governance"
Session on "Governance of Nanotechnologies"
May 28th-30th, 2008, Vienna - Special workshop on nano food
May 09th, 2008 - 1st NanoTrust Conference: "Risk Governance of Nanotechnologies: The International State of the Art"
September 25th, 2007, Vienna
Publications
Publications
- . (2024). Bremst zu viel Regulierung die Innovation?. Ita-Newsfeed. Retrieved from https://www.oeaw.ac.at/ita/detail/news/bremst-zu-viel-regulierung-die-innovation
- . (2023). NanoTrust - Politikberatung für sichere und nachhaltige Innovation. Ita-Newsfeed. Retrieved from https://www.oeaw.ac.at/ita/detail/news/nanotrust-politikberatung-fuer-sichere-und-nachhaltige-innovation
- . (2023). ITA-Konferenz: Nanotechnologien als Alternativen zu Tierversuchen. Ita-Newsfeed. Retrieved from https://www.oeaw.ac.at/ita/detail/news/ita-konferenz-nanotechnologien-als-alternativen-zu-tierversuchen
- . (2023). Nanomaterials in cosmetics – regulation and safety assessment in the EU (NanoTrust-Dossier No 061en - August 2023) (p. 6). Wien. doi:/10.1553/ita-nt-061enDOIWebsiteDownloadRISENWBIB Abstract
Quantum dots (QDs) are increasingly widespread in medicine and environmental research. Because of their specific optical characteristics, QDs can be detected by fluorescence analyses, even in complex media, such as environmental or tissue samples. Their unique properties make them useful for a variety of applications, such as for the use as fluorescent markers for cells, as contrast agents in deep tissue and tumour imaging, in biosensing or photodynamic therapy, and for targeted drug delivery. As a result, QDs could potentially be used as detectable and clearly identifiable “nanotracers” to mark or detect specific targets or to be able to draw general conclusions about the fate of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in environmentally relevant media, e.g. in wastewater. QDs mainly consist of metallic semiconductor compounds, such as cadmium selenide (CdSe), cadmium telluride (CdTe), lead sulphide (PbS) or indium phosphide (InP), which can have toxic effects on cells and organisms. Research is therefore being conducted on nontoxic carbonbased QDs, amongst others. QDs are already being used in products, such as TV screens and novel solar cell technologies. However, with an increasing number of applications and thusan increase in production volumes, potential exposure is also intensifying. Consequently, risks to humans and the environment are increasing as accidental release and resulting negative effects cannot be ruled out. To date,however, only limited data exist on possible environmental and health risks.
- . (2023). Nanomaterials in cosmetics – regulation and safety assessment in the EU (Aug. 2023; Authors: Sabine Greßler, Anna Pavlicek, André Gazsó). Wien. doi:10.1553/ita-nt-061en
- . (2023). Wenn Nanocarrier Medikamente transportieren. Ita-Newsfeed. Retrieved from https://www.oeaw.ac.at/ita/detail/news/wenn-nanocarrier-medikamente-transportieren
- . (2023). Safe by Design – aber sicher?. Ita-Newsfeed. Retrieved from https://www.oeaw.ac.at/ita/detail/news/safe-by-design-aber-sicher
- . (2023). Marker materials and spectroscopic methods for sorting plastic waste (NanoTrust-Dossier No 060en - June2023) (p. 6). Wien. doi:/10.1553/ita-nt-060enDOIWebsiteDownloadRISENWBIB Abstract
Quantum dots (QDs) are increasingly widespread in medicine and environmental research. Because of their specific optical characteristics, QDs can be detected by fluorescence analyses, even in complex media, such as environmental or tissue samples. Their unique properties make them useful for a variety of applications, such as for the use as fluorescent markers for cells, as contrast agents in deep tissue and tumour imaging, in biosensing or photodynamic therapy, and for targeted drug delivery. As a result, QDs could potentially be used as detectable and clearly identifiable “nanotracers” to mark or detect specific targets or to be able to draw general conclusions about the fate of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in environmentally relevant media, e.g. in wastewater. QDs mainly consist of metallic semiconductor compounds, such as cadmium selenide (CdSe), cadmium telluride (CdTe), lead sulphide (PbS) or indium phosphide (InP), which can have toxic effects on cells and organisms. Research is therefore being conducted on nontoxic carbonbased QDs, amongst others. QDs are already being used in products, such as TV screens and novel solar cell technologies. However, with an increasing number of applications and thusan increase in production volumes, potential exposure is also intensifying. Consequently, risks to humans and the environment are increasing as accidental release and resulting negative effects cannot be ruled out. To date,however, only limited data exist on possible environmental and health risks.
- . (2023). NANOTRUST and the Austrian Nano Risk Governance Network. In D. Robinson, Winickoff, D., & Kreiling, L. (Eds.), Technology assessment for emerging technology: Meeting new demands for strategic intelligence (OECD Science, Technology and Industry Policy Papers No. 146 - Annex) (pp. 1-62). Paris. doi:10.1787/e738fcdf-en
- . (2023). Überarbeitetes Merkblatt "Nanomaterialien" der AUVA. Ita-Newsfeed. Retrieved from https://www.oeaw.ac.at/ita/detail/news/ueberarbeitetes-merkblatt-nanomaterialien-der-auva
- . (2023). Nanomaterialien in Kosmetika - Regulierung und Sicherheitsbewertung in der EU (NanoTrust-Dossier Nr. 061 - April 2023) (p. 6). Wien. doi:/10.1553/ita-nt-061
- . (2023). A Special Example for Advanced Materials: Nanocarriers - Poster 5th Erwin Schrödinger Symposium 2023: Challenges in Nanoscience & Application. Mauterndorf.
- . (2023). Recycling von wertvollen Kunststoffen. Ita-Newsfeed. Retrieved from https://www.oeaw.ac.at/ita/detail/news/recycling-von-wertvollen-kunststoffen
- . (2023). Markermaterialien und spektroskopische Methoden für die Sortierung von Kunststoffabfällen (NanoTrust-Dossier Nr. 060 - Jänner 2023) (p. 6). Wien. doi:/10.1553/ita-nt-060
- . (2023). Applications of Fluorescent quantum dots for medical and environmental science applications (NanoTrust-Dossier No 059en - January 2023) (p. 6). Wien. doi:/10.1553/ita-nt-059en
- . (2023). The use and detection of quantum dots as nanotracers in environmental fate studies of engineered nanoparticles. Enviromental Pollution, 317, 1-17. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120461
- . (2022). Merkblatt plus 310 - Nanomaterialien. (AUVA, Ed.). Retrieved from https://www.auva.at/cdscontent/load?contentid=10008.776771&version=1681487407
- . (2022). Quantenpunkte – molekulare Laternen. Ita-Newsfeed. Retrieved from https://www.oeaw.ac.at/ita/detail/news/quantenpunkte-molekulare-laternen
- . (2022). Fluoreszierende Quantenpunkte für medizinische und umwelt-wissenschaftlichen Anwendungen (NanoTrust-Dossier Nr. 059 - August 2022) (p. 6). Wien. doi:/10.1553/ita-nt-059
- . (2022). Advanced Materials (NanoTrust-Dossier No 058en - June 2022) (p. 6). Wien. doi:/10.1553/ita-nt-058en
Conference Papers/Speeches
Conference Papers/Speeches
-
24/11/2023
, Beijing
André Gazsó:
Risk Governance of Nanomaterials
Austrian Nano-Delegation to China -
23/11/2023
, Beijing
André Gazsó:
The role of technology assessment in governing emerging technologies
Austrian Nano-Delegation to China -
22/11/2023
, Suzhou
André Gazsó:
The role of technology assessment in governing emerging technologies
Austrian Nano-Delegation to China -
21/11/2023
, Shanghai
André Gazsó:
NanoTrust and the Austrian Nano Governance System
Austrian Nano-Delegation to China -
16/10/2023
, online
André Gazsó:
Advanced Materials and Nanocarriers
OECD-BNCT Steering Group Meeting -
15/09/2023
, Wien
André Gazsó:
Verstetigung - Vom Projekt zum Prozess
Internationaler Behördendialog -
14/09/2023
, Wien
André Gazsó, Steffen Bettin, :
Statusbericht und Präsentation möglicher Themen
Nano-EHS Workshop -
14/09/2023
, Wien
André Gazsó:
TA long-term projects and emerging technologies
15th NanoTrust Conference -
06/09/2023
, Wien
André Gazsó:
Risikobewertung von emergenten Entwicklungen. Erfahrungen aus internationalen Langzeitprojekten der TA
3. Netzwerktreffen Risiko- und Krisenmanagement der SV-CISO Community -
30/03/2023
, Linz
André Gazsó:
Technikfolgenabschätzung (TA) und wissensbasierte Politikberatung
Zukunftstechnologien und Innovationen im Feuerwehrwesen -
15/03/2023
, Mauterndorf
André Gazsó:
The role of technology assessment and foresight in governing emerging technologies
5th Erwin Schrödinger Symposium -
01/03/2023
, online
André Gazsó:
Überblick über die österreichischen Aktivitäten im Bereich der Nanorisikogovernance
Arbeitsgruppe Advanced Materials, 6. Treffen -
12/12/2022
, Paris / hybrid
André Gazsó:
BNCT Technology Assessment Workshop Vienna
16th Meeting of the BNCT -
23/11/2022
, Wien
:
Sicherheit und Nachhaltigkeit von Nanomaterialien und anderen Advanced Materials (SiNa)
Kick-Off Nano EHS-Projekt -
17/11/2022
, Wien
André Gazsó, Daniela Fuchs, :
NanoTrust Advanced
NanoTrust Beitratssitzung 2022 -
19/10/2022
, Wien
André Gazsó:
Technikfolgenabschätzung und wissensbasierte Politikberatung
Netzwerktreffen der SV-CISO Community -
22/04/2022
, Graz, Anton Paar GmbH
André Gazsó:
Standardisierung als Teil der Risikogovernance
20. NanoNET-Austria Meeting -
08/12/2021
, Paris (online)
André Gazsó:
Technology Assessment and Foresight. Austrian Cases Study & Vienna Workshop 2022
14th Session of the Working Party on Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Converging Technologies -
19/11/2021
, Wien (online)
:
Ergebnisse der ExpertInnenbefragung zu zukünftig relevanten Nano-EHS Forschungsthemen.
Nano EHS-Workshop -
27/10/2021
, online
André Gazsó:
NanoTrust and the Austrian Risk Governance System
Expert Workshop on Sustainability of Emerging Technologies
Duration
10/2017 - 09/2020
Project team
Links
Links
The following collection contains links to national and international research institutions on nanotechnology, accompanying research and risk management. It focuses von Austrian organizations working on and providing informations on a variety of risk aspects and risk governance.
Austrian Workers' Compensation Board (dt. AUVA)
Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (dt. BfR)
Chamber of Labour (dt. BAK)
Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection (dt. BMASK)
Federal Ministry of Health (dt. BMG)
Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (dt. BMLFUW)
Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (dt. BMVIT)
Federal Ministry of Science and Research (dt. BMWF)
Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (dt. ITAS)
The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (dt. FFG)
NanoinformationsPortal (german only)
Austrian Society for Toxicology (dt.+en. ASTOX)
Environmental Agency Austria (dt. UBA)
Austrian Economic Chambers (dt. WKO)
Centre for Technology Assessment (dt. TA-SWISS)
Funding
