Time- and cost-effective research instruments are currently required as tools for a sustainable and safety oriented product development both in academia and industry. The present contribution investigates a very rapid method to assess critical materials in an early stage of development or product design. The use of physico-chemical properties as primary decision parameters allow a first step of material risk evaluation at the design stage using predominantly accessible data. The method has been validated on the basis of the currently available toxicity data and further supported by in vitro experiments.

We propose a mapping of nanomaterials along their persistence, catalytic and chemical activity within biological systems and matrix related effects. This contribution will first demonstrate a justification for the chosen risk evaluation parameters. In a second step, existing materials with known risk profile are used to validate the approach. The last part will guide the audience through the evaluation of currently used industrial materials and novel products based on nanoparticles or carbon nanotubes.

The Swiss Departments of Public Health (BAG) and environment (BAFU) are currently implementing the here presented proposal as part of chemical and materials legislation. It is expected that significant parts of the Swiss proposal will be transferred to other European Countries.

References:

[1] C. Meili, M. Widmer, F. Husmann, P. Gehr, F. Blank, M. Riediker, K. Schmid, L. Limbach, W. Stark, Synthetische Nanomaterialien: Risikobeurteilung und Risikomanagement. Grundlagenbericht zum Aktionsplan. Umwelt-Wissen Nr. 0721. Bundesamt für Umwelt und Bundesamt für Gesundheit, Bern. 284 S. (2007)

[2] L.K. Limbach, P. Wick, P. Manser, R. Grass, A. Bruinink, W.J. Stark, Exposure of Engineered Nanoparticles to Human Lung Epithelial Cells: Influence of Chemical Composition and Catalytic Activity on Oxidative Stress. Env. Sci. Technol, 41, 4084-9 (2007)

[3] T.J. Brunner, P. Wick, P. Manser, P. Spohn, R.N. Grass, L.K. Limbach, A. Bruinink, W.J. Stark, In Vitro Cytotoxicity of Oxide Nanoparticles: Comparison to Asbestos, Silica, and the Effect of Particle Solubility, Env. Sci. Technol., 40 (14), 4374-81 (2006).

[4] P. Wick, P. Manser, L.K. Limbach, U. Dettlaff-Weglikowska, F. Krumeich, S. Roth, W.J. Stark, A. Bruinink, The degree and kind of agglomeration affect carbon nanotube cytotoxicity, Toxicol. Lett., 168(2), 121-31 (2007).