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Home , Nanomaterials, Nanotechnology

NANOTECHNOLOGY &&N NAANOMATERIALSNOMATERIALS RESEARCH

opportunities for • NanomNanomaaterialsterials & Sustainability the development • EnhancEnhanciingng Collaborative of innovative ResearResearcch h & Partnerships products that provide advances Exposure aannd d Characterizing in NanomaterNanomateriialsals Properties and medicine. The US Environmental NanomateriNanomateriaal l p roperties such as Protection Agency reactivity, meltingmelting point, (EPA) is using fluorescencfluorescencee, , mechanical strength scientific methods and electricelectricaal l conductivity can be to research what altered at ththee nano scale level which are, makes it haharrd d to determine ho w how they act, travel and change over these matermateriialsals interact with humans Background time. and in the eennvi vironment. EPA is: is the under­ • ResearResearcching hing how nanomaterials standing and control of at the Nanomaterials are very useful, but affect eeccosystemosystem and human nanoscale, at dimensions between there is little research about how health. approximately 1 and 100 they affect human and ecosystem • DetectiDetectinng, g, quantifying and nanometers. A nanometer is one health. charactcharacteerizing rizing nanomaterials. billionth of a meter. While it is • Assessisinng, ranking and difficult to imagine just how small To fill these research gaps, EPA’s predictinging nanomaterial health that is, here are some examples: Chemical Safety Research Program, effects usingusing rapid, automated

chemicchemicaal l screening called high - • along with scientific collaborators A sheet of is about worldwide, is researching how througthroughhputput testi ng methods. 100,000 nanometers thick. nanomaterials interact with • A strand of human DNA is 2.5 biological processes important to Exposure aanndd characterizing nanometers in diameter. human and ecosystem health. nanomaterinanomateriaal l properties research will • A human is approximately allow risk aasssessment sessment of nano ­ 80,000 nanometers wide. This research is used by EPA's materials at multiple levels and will

Chemical Safety and Pollution provide quaquallifiedified and credible Nanotechnology relies on the ability Prevention Office and others making alternative tteestingsting methods that can to design, manipulate, and chemical related policy decisions to be used to pprredictedict toxicity. Results manufacture materials at the better protect human health and the from this reressearchearch will be used to nanoscale. These materials are called environment. build a datadatabbasease that identifies what nanomaterials. nanomaterinanomateriaal l structures are more likely to resresuultlt in toxicity and the EPA’s chemical safety research Commercial processes and products types of strstruucturesctures that make up focuses on the following priority that use nanomaterials are growing nanomaterinanomateriaal ls that are safer which categories of nanomaterial research: rapidly and these tiny products are can be used to design or increasingly found in paint, fabrics, • Exposure and Characterizing safer nanonanommaterialsaterials . cosmetics, treated wood, Nanomaterials Properties and sunscreen. Nanomaterials • Life Cycle Assessment of EPA is also assessing the potential exhibit unique properties different Nanomaterials effects of nnaano no- than chemical substances that are • Nanomaterials Risk (used in coscosmmeticetic and sunscreen larger in size. Nanomaterials provide Assessments products), nnaanono silver, nanotubes, nanonano cerium oxide and 1 U.S. Environmental Protection Ag Agency ency CCoontinuedntinued on back Office of Research and Developme Development nt

Continued from front

nano on the health of assessing the impacts of using emerging option for the treatment of ecosystems. Researchers are testing particular nanomaterials in specific contaminated soil and groundwater toxicity of nanomaterials in aquatic applications. Two case studies on and a nanomaterial called cerium species, determining modes of nanoscale titanium dioxide oxide that is being added to fuel exposure and how these materials (nanoTiO2) are available. One used in diesel buses to reduce can accumulate in both the marine examines the use of nanomaterials emissions. and freshwater ecosystems. for water treatment in the removal of arsenic, and the other looks at its use Collaborative Research Efforts These efforts will allow more as an ingredient in topical sustainable development and usage sunscreens. A similar case study on Collaborations are essential to the of nanomaterials. nanoscale silver in disinfectant success of EPA’s chemical safety sprays is also available. Current research. EPA currently partners Life Cycle Assessment of efforts are focused on developing a with different organizations ranging Nanomaterials case study on multiwalled carbon from industry, academia, trade nanotubes (MWCNT) in flame- associations, other federal agencies EPA researchers are evaluating the retardant coatings applied to and non-governmental life cycle of consumer products upholstery textiles. organizations. All partners have an containing nanomaterials starting interest in advancing nanomaterials with raw material extraction and The case studies are developed using research. ending with the ultimate disposal. input from a diverse expert This research assembles a complete stakeholder group to support The United States government’s life cycle inventory for specified consideration of potential impacts in efforts to assess nanomaterials are nano products. Using the principles the environment as well as coordinated by the U.S. National of “green ” and “life cycle ecological and human health. Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). assessment,” researchers are NNI is a collaborative project of 25 developing more environmentally Sustainability agencies, including EPA. friendly methods to produce EPA has made significant progress nanomaterials and crafting In addition to research in nanotechnology and sustainability innovative technologies that collaborations, EPA provides research in the past five years. This minimize the impacts on health and funding to external organizations to research has developed alternative the environment. The innovative advance nanomaterials research. ways to apply nanomaterials to technologies being developed by Solicitations for proposals to fund minimize environmental and health EPA researchers are being used in external research can be found at impacts. environmental remediation www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/. EPA also technologies and are being offers opportunities for small The method uses a “bottom-up” commercialized in collaboration business research grants and approach to assemble nanomaterials with private companies. fellowships for both undergraduate at the molecular level. It avoids the and graduate students. use of hazardous reducing agents Risk Assessments and instead employs benign metallic More information: salts (such as iron), water, and EPA uses the comprehensive www.epa.gov/nanoscience/ polyphenols from plant materials to environmental assessment (CEA) act as reducing or capping agent to approach to identify and prioritize Contact: Monica Linnenbrink, prevent nanomaterials from research to support [email protected], collecting in larger clumps during assessments and risk management 919-541-1522. decisions. production.

A series of risk assessment case In 2008, EPA’s nano research team studies are in development designed a that has pertaining to the product life cycle, become very useful in cleaning up how nanomaterials move in the environmental contaminants, environment, how they interact with particularly families of chemicals important biological processes, that are harmful to humans called determining how much “Polychlorinated Biphenyls.” Other nanomaterials people and the real world applications in the works environment are exposed to and are nano zero valent iron which is an U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2 Office of