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Welcome to SAFENANO 

SAFENANO is Europe's Centre of Excellence on Nanotechnology Hazard and Risk, based at the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM).

SAFENANO facilitates responsible development of safe nanomaterials and nanotechnology-enabled products by making use of an integrated approach which gives users access to:
SAFENANO's Key features
  • The SAFENANO Knowledge Base - focused on interpreting and disseminating emerging scientific evidence about the potential risks to health and the environment arising from the development and use of nanotechnology.


  • SAFENANO Scientific Services - brings together multidisciplinary expertise in hazard assessment, exposure, toxicology, occupational hygiene and risk assessment to provide independent, authoritative consultancy on risk and safety.


  • SAFENANO Research - brings together our team’s multidisciplinary expertise in collaborative work with industry and other organisations in order to help identify and address any likely health hazards and risks from nanotechnologies.

To explore each of our three core offerings, click on the links above or use the top menu navigation.



Recent News Articles
HARN Dimension and Pleural Retention

SAFENANO’s Craig Poland explores the fibre pathogenicity paradigm, and explains why all nanotubes are not like asbestos.
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BIS working on nanotechnology standards

The Bureau of Indian Standards is giving priority to standardisation in new areas including nanotechnology.
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New EC publication marks new strategy towards responsible innovation

Science in Society Programme reflects on how to proceed towards Responsible Research and Innovation in the Information and Communication Technologies and Security Technology fields.
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Surface coatings influence silver nanoparticle toxicity, new research suggests

U.S. research study indicates that changing the coating on silver nanoparticles alters the toxicity to mouse cells.
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Risk assessment approaches and data needs for engineered nanomaterials

Italian researchers have performed a review of available data and risk assessment approaches for engineered nanomaterials from a regulatory perspective, published this month in Nanotoxicology .
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New method reveals nanoparticle solubility

U.S. researchers have developed a method to examine nanoparticle degradation in salt solutions.
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Weighing the risks of nanotechnology

Food Manufacturing has published an interview with Amy Galland of As You Sow about nanotechnology and what manufacturers should consider before implementing this new technology.
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Funding opportunity: Centers for Material Life Cycle Safety

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking applications for an interdisciplinary center focused on the application of a life c...
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EPA Proposes SNURs on CNTs

On the 28th December, EPA proposed significant new use rules (SNURs) under section 5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 17 chemical substances, seven of which include the term Carbon...
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EPA OIG Concludes EPA Needs to Manage Nanomaterials More Effectively

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) releases a report entitled "EPA Needs to Manage Nanomaterial Risks More Effectively".
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Upcoming Events
The Innovation Society, St. Gallen and Marsh Risk Consulting will be holding a free webinar, "Managing Nano Risk – Implementation of a Risk Management System for Nanomaterials," on February 23, 2012 from 16:00 to 17:00 CET.  The webinar provides a short overview of...