NanoTrust Dossiers

In order to regulate nanomaterials and to determine mandatory product labelling a generally accepted agreement what the term “nanomaterial” means has to be reached beforehand. The EU Parliament requires that a definition shall be science-based and comprehensive. Furthermore, for regulatory measures in individual sectors, it shall be unambiguous, flexible, easy and practical to handle. During the past few years various institutions came up with suggestions for a definition, leading to a recommendation of the EU commission, which finally is being accepted into new and existing EU legislation. Some provisions in this proposal are controversial and the implementation into specific sectoral legislation constitutes a major challenge.

In the last years, dialogues have become increasingly important for politics and science as well as scientific communication. More and more, they serve as an important feature for the responsible handling of nanotechnology at the national and European level. German speaking states have therefore laid emphasis on dialogues as a tool for communication and information in their nanotechnology action plans.
The projects described in the following were largely initiated by the respective authorities as implementation measures of the national nanotechnology action plans. With the exception of the information meetings, these measures in general took place between experts and decision makers in camera. For example, with regard to Austria the experts’ group Nanotechnologie-Informations-Plattform is described.
Very seldom have decision makers initiated any public dialogues. One unique dialogue process with citizens is described, namely publifocus events in Switzerland, where the results had a direct influence on policy development. In addition to those dialogues which contributed to the national political process, occasionally also smaller dialogue events took place in the context of research projects, for example the focus groups in Germany and Austria of the project NanoSafety for the EU Parliament.

In the construction industry and in architecture, nanotechnology and nanomaterials provide new opportunities. “Nano-products” for construction purposes are currently found in four main sectors: cement-bound construction materials, noise reduction and thermal insulation or temperature regulation, surface coatings to improve the functionalities of various materials, and fire protection. At the present time, nanomaterials – and therefore “nano-products” – remain considerably more expensive than conventional alternatives due to the required production technology, and the technical performance of many products remains to be demonstrated. Both industry workers as well as end users can come into contact with nanomaterials when using a “nano-construction material” and need to be protected from potential health hazards. Information on which nanomaterial is found in which form and concentration in a product is often unavailable, particularly to end users. Once a nanomaterial is solidly embedded in a matrix, for example in concrete or in insulation material, then the probability of exposure is very low or non-existent according to current knowledge, as long as the product is not destructively worked or processed. When workers spray a nano-surface layer or mix mortar at a construction site, for example, they are subject to a potential health hazard by inhaling the dust or tiny droplets of liquid (aerosols). As “nano-construction products” currently play a subordinate role on the market, the current environmental threat due to nanomaterials appears to be low. Nonetheless, virtually no data are available on exposure, so that no comprehensive risk assessment can currently be undertaken for any nanomaterial.

The funds for research on nanotechnologies (NMP – nanotechnology and nanosciences, new materials and new production processes), a funding priority established in 2002 by the EU Commission, were increased in the current 7th Framework Program. The expenditures for research on the environmental and health impacts of nanoparticles have shown a particularly large jump. Beyond increasing the budget for additional research projects, the funding structure was also improved. The Commission is pursuing two main goals. The first is to create synergies and help avoid redundancies on the national level by more strongly interlinking the scientific institutions. The second is to intensify the information exchange between the respective institutions by establishing international networks and communication platforms. EU institutions such as the Joint Research Centre are also substantially involved in these networks. One such network is the NanoSafety Cluster, which to date has encompassed more than thirty EHS projects (five of them still from the 6thFramework Programme). In the past, the research focus was mostly on the potential health impacts of synthetic nanomaterials; increasingly, efforts are being made to study the potential impacts on the environment and the protection of employees that produce and process nano-components. Finally, the funding of research proposals that deal with the necessary implementation of regulatory approaches (laboratory analytics, detection methodologies, development and adaptation of measuring instruments) was intensified.

There is currently no clear evidence that engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) pose a significant threat to the environment. Nonetheless, major gaps in our knowledge exist:
Environmental analytics: Suitable methods to determine nanoparticle concentrations and properties in complex environmental media such as water, soil, sediment or sewage sludge, as well as in organisms, remain to be developed.
Fate and behavior in natural environmental compartments: The special properties of artificial nanomaterials complicate predictions. The current dearth of data is a major stumbling block in comprehensively assessing the fate and behavior of nanomaterials in the environment.
Ecotoxicology: Research is concentrated primarily on controlled laboratory studies using cell cultures or model organisms. One of the major critiques here is the use of unrealistically high doses. No detailed ecotoxicological studies are available that can explain the mechanisms of uptake, distribution, metabolization and excretion of nanoparticles.
Environmental exposure: The most probable entry pathways of nanomaterials into the environment are via sewage water and wastes, but to date no quantitative exposure data are available for nanoparticles. The available studies are based exclusively on model calculations and estimates, which considerably hampers comprehensive risk assessment.
Overall, no definitive conclusions can be drawn on whether environmental damage can be expected or not.

Nanotechnology products, processes and applications have the potential to make important contributions to environmental and climate protection by helping save raw materials, energy and water as well as by reducing greenhouse gases and problematic wastes. Nanomaterials, for example, can increase the durability of materials; dirt- and water-repellant coatings are designed to help reduce cleaning efforts; novel insulating materials can improve the energy efficiency of buildings; adding nanoparticles to reduce the weight of materials can help save energy during transport. Great hopes are being placed on nano-technologically optimized products and processes that are currently under development in the energy production and storage sectors.
Emphasis is often placed on the sustainable potential of nanotechnology, but this in fact represents a poorly documented expectation. Determining a product’s actual effect on the environment – both positive and negative – requires considering the entire life cycle from the production of the base materials to disposal at the end of its useful life. Only few life cycle analyses have been conducted, but some show clearly reduced environmental impacts or energy and resource savings for certain products that use nanomaterials or nanotechnology processes. Nonetheless, not every “nano-product” is a priori environmentally friendly or sustainable, and the production of nanomaterials often requires large amounts of energy, water and environmentally problematic chemicals.

As far as concerns the risks of nanotechnology, the focus of attention is on nanomaterials and in particular on free nanoparticles. Alongside the investigation of their possible toxicity, the question of the exposure of humans and the environment is an essential element of their risk assessment. Nanoparticles suspended (distributed and embedded) freely in the air are of particular relevance, since they can easily penetrate the human body via the lungs. In addition, it is extremely difficult to monitor the spread of nanoparticles in the air.
Commercially available particle counters can be used to determine the concentration of particles and droplets in the air down to a size of a few nanometres. In the light of the high background concentration of natural nanoparticles and those generated by human activity, the first priority is to distinguish between natural and synthetic nanoparticles. While an on-site concentration measurement can be carried out in a few minutes, the analysis of the nanoparticles contained in the air, that is the determination of their form and composition is only possible using complex electron microscopy procedures in the laboratory. This situation currently constitutes the main problem for determining the concentration of synthetic nanoparticles and will do so for the near future.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be inhaled and thus deposited in the lungs. Studies have shown that specific CNTs, namely those that are long (10-20 µm), thin (5-10nm), needle-shaped and non-soluble (biopersistent), can promote the formation of lung diseases and show behaviour similar to that of asbestos fibres. Short or long fibres that are not needle-shaped will not, however, induce inflammatory changes, no more than a single carbon particle would. Comprehensive life-cycle analyses regarding the potential environmental benefits arising from the use of CNTs (such as resource savings owing to more light-weight materials) are not available to date. At present, the production of CNTs still requires a high energy input, which offsets any potential environmental benefits. Their high reactivity and ability to transport other substances raises concerns about a possible ecotoxicity of CNTs. The data available are still restricted in scope, and the discussion of results is controversial. Given the lack of reliable data on exposure, an adequate assessment of health and/or environmental risks is not possible for the time being.
At present, specific regulations for CNTs or other nanomaterials exist neither in the laws governing chemicals nor in regulations for occupational health and safety. Hence, the relevant authorities recommend that the precautionary principle should be applied and measures taken to avoid exposure or keep it as low as possible.

As the basic element of life on Earth, carbon boasts a greater diversity of compounds than any other chemical element. Even elementary carbon occurs in several structural forms, including diamonds, graphite, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The latter are well known and promising nanomaterials. CNTs have exceptional properties, combining high resistance, tensile strength and electrical conductivity with a very low weight. Carbon nanotubes are produced in numerous industries worldwide, with CVD (chemical vapour deposition) currently being the most relevant processing technology. CNTs are used as additives to various plastics in electronics, car manufacturing and shipbuilding or for the production of sports equipment. In the future, CNTs are expected to be used particularly in environmental and energy engineering, possible applications including enhanced batteries, solar and fuel cells, as well as in the construction industry for high-performance concrete, but also in medicine for drug delivery.