Nanoparticles: A Closer Look at the Risks to Human Health and

1,28
MB the Environment

105
stron

4283
ID International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics

2005
rok

Table of Contents

List of Figures

List of Tables

1 INTRODUCTION5

1.1 BACKGROUND5

1.2 OBJECTIVES.7

1.3 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS7

1.4 METHODOLOGY.7

1.5 OUTLINE.9

2 NANOPARTICLES10

2.1 PROMISING APPLICATION FIELDS.11

2.2 THE NOMENCLATURE ‘NANOPARTICLES’12

3 HAZARDS AND RISKS OF NANOPARTICLES TO HUMAN HEALTH AND THE

ENVIRONMENT.14

3.1 DEFINING HAZARD AND RISK14

3.2 LITERATURE REVIEW.15

3.2.1 Inhalation of nanoparticles.15

3.2.2 Absorption through the skin16

3.2.3 Absorption through the intestinal tract16

3.2.4 The translocation of nanoparticles in the body16

3.2.5 Novel properties, different toxicity.17

3.2.6 Chemical composition and coating.18

3.2.7 Environment.18

3.2.8 Summary of the literature review.19

3.3 INTERVIEW RESULTS OF ACADEMIA AND NGOS.20

3.3.1 About the hazards20

3.3.2 About the potential risks.23

3.3.3 Reducing the hazard of nanomaterials.24

3.3.4 Is it possible to generalise about nanoparticles risks?24

3.3.5 The most potent risks from nanoparticles.26

3.3.6 Precautionary measures26

3.3.6.1 Precautionary measures in the handling and production of nanomaterials 27

3.3.6.2 Precautionary role of producers.27

3.3.6.3 Precautionary role of authorities.28

3.3.7 Nanoparticle applications29

3.3.8 Further research30

3.4 MAIN FINDINGS31

4 PERCEPTIONS AND PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES OF PRODUCERS OF

NANOPARTICLES34

4.1 RISKS AND HAZARDS TO HEALTH OR ENVIRONMENT FROM NANOPARTICLES35

4.2 PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES36

4.3 RISK AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH38

4.4 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH REGULATION OF NANOPARTICLES39

4.5 MAIN FINDINGS40

5 PERCEPTIONS OF REGULATORY BODIES42

5.1 EUROPEAN COMMISSION42

5.1.1 How the EC works with the risk of nanoparticles.42

5.1.2 Research on applications versus research on nano-toxicity.43

5.1.3 Precautionary measures.43

5.1.4 Regulations.44

5.2 OCCUPATION HEALTH AUTHORITIES IN SWITZERLAND, GERMANY AND THE UK44

5.2.1 About the hazards and risks in occupation health.45

5.2.2 The severity of the risks in occupation health.46

5.2.3 The different types of nanoparticles and the concern47

5.2.4 Precautionary measures.48

5.2.5 Applications.49

5.2.6 Future regulations.50

5.2.7 Awareness of other risks.51

5.3 MAIN FINDINGS.52

6 DISCUSSION.54

6.1 CATEGORIES OF NANOPARTICLES.54

6.2 FUTURE EXPOSURE LEVELS55

6.3 THE UNCERTAINTIES, HAZARDS AND RISKS OF NANOPARTICLES.56

6.3.1 Public Health.57

6.3.2 Occupational Health.59

6.3.3 Environment61

6.4 PRODUCERS63

6.5 AUTHORITIES.64

6.6 PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES68

6.7 THE PUBLIC DEBATE.69

6.7.1 The biotechnology debate69

6.7.2 The nanotechnology debate.70

6.7.3 Learning from the biotechnology debate.71

7 CONCLUSIONS75

7.1 KNOWLEDGE BASE, PERCEPTIONS AND PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.75

7.2 RECOMMENDATIONS, FURTHER RESEARCH AND FOCAL POINTS78

7.3 CONCLUDING REMARKS.82

BIBLIOGRAPHY.83

ABBREVIATIONS.88

APPENDIX I: LIST OF INTERVIEWEES89

APPENDIX II: QUESTIONS TO NANOPARTICLE EXPERTS90

APPENDIX III: QUESTIONS TO PRODUCERS.91

APPENDIX IV: QUESTIONS TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES.94

APPENDIX V: INTERVIEW WITH EC REPRESENTATIVE.95