Paper NM+AS+MS-WeM4
Particle Characterization Issues in Evaluating the Toxicity and Environmental Impact of Manufactured Nanomaterials

Wednesday, November 2, 2011, 9:00 am, Room 111

Nanostructured materials and nanoparticles promise to revolutionize many key areas of science and technology, however, the environmental effects of nanomaterial enabled products need to be considered throughout their lifecycle, from manufacture to environmental disposal. As nanomaterials become more commonplace in commercial applications, there is a need to assess the potential health and safety effects on human and other biological organisms. Materials at the nanoscale often possess properties that are different from the equivalent bulk or molecular scale. It is clearly shortsighted to assume that toxicological profiles of nanomaterials are the same as in the bulk or molecular forms. As they address these issues, toxicologists often need assistance in understanding and accommodating many of the unique attributes of nanoscale materials as they begin to assess potential health and environmental effects. Though the interpretation of the biological markers of toxicity are well developed, there are a number of issues relating to dosage, size, shape, detection and characterization that are problematic. There is a growing consensus that the complexity of these issues requires a multidisciplinary approach to nanoparticle toxicology that includes medical personnel, environmental and physical scientists as well as engineers trained in particle technology.

Keywords: nanoparticles, nanocharacterization, nanotoxicology, toxicity,