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Our Projects: Consultancy and Reviews

SAFENANO / IOM have led many of the recent research reviews commissioned by DEFRA, HSE and the Environment agency as part of the wider UK and EU response to nanotechnology risk issues. The projects are categorised according to funding body.

Follow the links below to access information on each.

European Commission

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REACH-NanoInfo: Rip-oN 2 (2010)

REACH-NanoInfo is a project led by SAFENANO at the Institute of Occupational Medicine (UK). The Project is funded by the Institute for Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission’s Directorate General Joint Research Centre (JRC).

The project consortium is a partnership between SAFENANO, the Nanotechnology Industries Association & Cefic, and Soluzioni Informatiche, and brings together internationally renowned experts from disciplines including physical sciences, life sciences, occupational hygiene, and risk assessment.

The objectives of this project are to:

Develop specific advice on how REACH information requirements on intrinsic properties of nanomaterials can be fulfilled. This should address and advise on the appropriateness of the relevant test methods (including dosimetry) for nanomaterials and outline, when relevant, possible specific testing strategies.
Develop advice on the information that is needed for safety evaluation and risk management of nanomaterials and in particular if information is needed beyond or in addition to the current information requirements listed in REACH Annexes VI-X.

The project further defines objectives in relation to identified sub-tasks. These include:

Identification and review of information sources
Analysis of current REACH information requirements and whether these requirements are appropriate for nanomaterials.
Analysis of current testing and other information generation methods and strategies (including alternative testing), and whether these are or will be appropriate for nanomaterials under a reasonably short time.
Provision of an overview of relevant specific intrinsic properties for which an adaptation of the REACH information requirements and testing and other information generation methods/strategies might be needed for nanomaterials.
Identification of needs for further research and development of test methods and other information generation methods / strategies in regard to nanomaterials.
Development of a working document outlining needs and options for metrics/parameters in the hazard assessment compatible with the exposure assessment parameters/metrics in order to prepare a meaningful risk characterization.

REACH-NanoHazEx: Rip-oN 3 (2010)

REACH-NanoHazEx is a 12-16 month project led by SAFENANO at the Institute of Occupational Medicine (UK). The Consultancy Project is funded by the Institute for Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission’s Directorate General Joint Research Centre (JRC).

The consortium is a partnership between SAFENANO, the Nanotechnology Industries Association & Cefic, and Soluzioni Informatiche, and brings together internationally renowned experts from disciplines including physical sciences, life sciences, occupational hygiene, and risk assessment.

REACH-NanoHazEx concerns exposure assessment and hazard/risk characterisation for nanomaterials within REACH.

The objectives of this project are to:

Develop advice on how to do exposure assessment for nanomaterials within the REACH context. This shall be the main focus of project and shall cover:
- development of Exposure Scenarios,
- evaluation of operational conditions and risk management/mitigation measures and
- exposure estimation;
Develop ideas for how to conduct hazard and risk characterisation for nanomaterials. The latter will involve threshold/non-threshold considerations.

The project includes additional objectives in relation to identified sub-tasks. These include:

Identification and review of information sources
conduction of case studies for developing exposure scenarios for different nanomaterials;
production of an advisory report on the exposure assessment of nanomaterials in the REACH context;
analysis of existing evidence related to setting limit values for nanomaterials;
identification of critical items for dose description;
conduction of 3-4 case studies on whether and how no-effect-levels for health and the environment could be established;
development of recommendations on the feasibility of whether categorisation of nanomaterials (e.g. different types of carbon nanotubes) and/or 'case-by-case' approaches will be needed and practical advice on how to do this on the basis of existing scientific evidence;
production of an advisory report on hazard/risk characterisation of nanomaterials in the REACH context; and
development of a working document outlining needs and options for metrics/parameters (mass, number concentration, surface area, particle size(s) etc.) in the hazard assessment compatible with the exposure assessment parameters/metrics in order to prepare a meaningful risk characterization.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE), UK

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Nanoparticles: An Occupational Hygiene Review (2005)

Aitken, R.J., Creely, K.S. & Tran, C.L. 2004

HSE Research Report 274, London: HSE Books

This review of occupational hygiene aspects of nanoparticle production was one of the first of its kind. It examines processes for the deliberate development and manufacture of nanoparticle products and considers sources and routes of exposure, levels of exposure, numbers exposed, knowledge gaps and future trends and makes recommendations on how the issues raised should be addressed.

This report is freely available, and may be downloaded in full from the HSE website here.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), UK

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A scoping study to identify hazard data needs for addressing the risks presented by nanoparticles and nanotubes (2005)

CL Tran, K Donaldson, V Stone, T Fernandez, A Ford, N Christofi, JG Ayres, M Steiner, JF Hurley, RJ Aitken and A Seaton

DEFRA Report CB01072, 2005

This study addressed:

Methodologies for examining the toxicology, ecotoxicology, persistence and bioaccumulation potential of manufactured unfixed NP and NT;
Differences in hazard posed by variations in NP size and chemical composition;
Mechanisms of interaction of NP/NT with cells and tissues in organisms;
Epidemiology, with a view to developing guidance for future studies;
Identification of knowledge gaps and setting of recommendations for future research.

A copy of the report is available online and can be accessed here.

Review of gaps in environmental regulation for the products and applications of nanotechnologies (2005)

Chaudhry,Q.; Aitken,R.J.; Blackburn,J.; Floyd,P.; George,C.; Nwaogu,T.; Boxall,A. (2005)

DEFRA Report CB01075

The focus of this study was to identify applications for NMs, and relevant pieces of environmental legislation, for a wide range of industrial sectors and products; and assess whether the existing regulatory frameworks allow for adequate management and control of the risks posed by NMs.

A copy of the report can be downloaded here.

The manufacture and use of nanomaterials in the UK (2005)

Chaudhry,Q.; Thomas, M.; Boxall,A.; Aitken,R.J.; Hull, M. (2005)

DEFRA Report CB01070.

This DEFRA funded report reviewed the current and short term future scope of the manufacture and use of nanomaterials in the UK, and used information gathered to develop a comprehensive database. The final report may be downloaded here.

Current and predicted environmental exposure arising from engineered nanomaterials (2007)

Alistair B A Boxall, A.; Chaudhry, Q.; Sinclair, C.; Jones, A.; Aitken, A.; Jefferson, B. & Watts, C. (2007)

DEFRA Report CB01098

This study was performed to identify the potential releases of Engineered NPs to the environment; review their fate in environmental systems and finally to assess the potential current and future environmental exposures.

A copy of the report can be downloaded from DEFRA here.

REFNANO - Reference materials for engineered nanoparticle toxicology and metrology (2007)

Aitken, R.J.; Hankin, S.M.; Tran, C.L.; Donaldson, K.; Stone, V.; Cumpson, P.; Johnstone, J.; Chaudhry, Q. & Cash, S. (2007)

DEFRA Report CB01099

The REFNANO project sought to provide a priority list of candidates for inclusion in a set of reference materials to support measurement, toxicology and risk assessment of engineered nanoparticles in the UK. In addition, the project identified a series of requirements for the further development and promulgation of reference materials for nanoparticles.

Further background to the REFNANO report publication is available from DEFRA.

A full copy of the final report is available to download here.

CELL PEN - A study to identify physicochemical factors controlling the capacity of nanoparticles to penetrate cells (2008)

Hankin, S.M.; Tran, C.L.; Ross, B.; Donaldson, K; Stone, V.; Chaudhry, Q (2008)

DEFRA Report CB0405

The objectives of the Cell Pen project were to scope the research required into the mechanisms of translocation across the respiratory epithelium, and the resulting possible toxic effects in and beyond the lung.

In addition, the project advised on:

The feasibility of Identifying which features of nano-particles/tubes/fibres are important in particle-cell interactions;
Suggesting how NPs may be modified to enhance or reduce their capacity to enter cells; and
Suggesting how interactions between NPs and cultured human cells might be studied.

The CELL PEN report was completed in late 2008, and published in January 2009 to critical acclaim.

A full copy of the report is available to download here.

HARN: An outline scoping study to determine whether High Aspect Ratio nanoparticles should raise the same concerns as do asbestos fibres (2008)

CL Tran, SM Hankin, B Ross, RJ Aitken, AD Jones, K Donaldson, V Stone, R Tantra (2008)

DEFRA Report CB0406 - code99

This project addressed concerns about the potential health effects of high aspect ratio nanoparticles (HARN). It did so by undertaking a scoping study to review the existing literature on industrial fibres and HARN to determine whether high aspect ratio nanoparticles (HARN) should raise the same concerns as do asbestos fibres; and setting out a research strategy towards determining whether the health concerns about HARN are well–founded.

The consortium behind the HARN report was comprised from members of SnIRC (the Safety of Nanoparticles Interdisciplinary Research Centre) – including IOM, Edinburgh University & Napier University; with additional input from the National Physics Laboratory, London. In preparation of the report, opinion was also sought from a variety of leading experts across a range of stakeholder groups, from both within the UK and throughout Europe.

The report was completed and published in January 2009, to widespread acclaim within the nanotech EHS community.

The report is available to download in full here.

EMERGNANO - A review of completed and near completed environment, health and safety research on nanomaterials (2009)

Aitken RJ, Hankin SM, Ross B, Tran CL, Stone V, Fernandes TF, Donaldson K, Duffin R, Chaudhry Q, Wilkins TA , Wilkins SA, Levy LS, Rocks SA, Maynard A (2009)

DEFRA Report CB0409

The EMERGNANO project's aims were to:

Collect together a comprehensive listing of completed and near-completed environment, health and safety research on nanomaterials and nanotechnology
Review these studies according to their relevance and impact in the field
Use the review outcomes to identify priority needs for control or management of risk, including an appraisal of whether there is sufficient information to invoke the precautionary principle for one or more nanomaterials.

The project was completed and the EMERGNANO report published in April 2009. As the first global review of environment, health and safety research into nanomaterials , it recieved widespread acclaim within the nanotechnology community.

To download the EMERGNANO report in full please click here (pdf, 1.21MB)
Alternatively, you can access a concise version by clicking here (pdf, 656kb)

British Standards Institute (BSI), UK

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Nanotechnologies - Part 2: Guide to safe handling and disposal of manufactured nanomaterials (2007)

One of the nine documents for nanotechnology published by BSI in 2007, this widely cited guide was developed by the SAFENANO team under BSI Committee NTI/1. It aims to help manufacturers and users working with nanomaterials do so in as safe and responsible a fashion as is possible.

For further information on the BSI 'Nano 9', and to download the guide in full from click here.

Food Standards Agency (FSA), UK

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Assessment of the potential use of nanomaterials as food additives or food ingredients in relation to consumer safety and implication for regulatory controls (2007)

Chaudhry, Q., Scotter, M., Castle, L., Blackburn, J., Boxall, A., Aitken, R. and Ross, B. (2007)

FSA Report A01057

This project was undertaken by the Safety of nanomaterials Interdisciplinary Research Centre (SnIRC), led for this study by Central Science Laboratory.

Its main aims were to collate information on the current and projected use of nanomaterials as food additives or food ingredients, and to identify potential implications for consumer safety and regulatory frameworks.

The project was completed in 2007, and the report filed with FSA the same year.

Click here to access the FSA project archives for further information.

Assessment of Current and Projected Applications of Nanotechnology for Food Contact Materials in Relation to Consumer Safety and Regulatory Implications (2008)

Chaudhry Q, Castle L, Bradley E, Blackburn J, Aitken R & Boxall A (2008)

FSA Report A03063

This study was carried out by SnIRC (Safety of nanomaterials Interdisciplinary Research Centre), led for this project by Central Science Laboratory.

The project was aimed at assessing the current and projected applications of nanotechology for food contact materials (FCMs) in relation to implications for consumer safety and regulatory controls.

The project was completed in 2008.

Follow this link to access the FSA's project archives.

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