Scientists seek to assess nanomaterial risks

The three projects that they are involved in form the second part of the so-called Environmental Nanoscience Initiative (ENI) which was launched in the UK in 2006.

The first phase received a huge amount of research interest and 17 projects were funded to address some of the many questions surrounding the use of nanoparticles.

Dr Pamela Kempton, head of research at the Natural Environment Research Council, said: ’Manufactured nanomaterials are already used in a wide range of consumer products, such as clothing, cosmetics and domestic cleaning materials. But we need to know much more about their potential effects on people, animals and plants.’

One of the ENI consortia — involving groups from Imperial College, the Health Protection Agency, as well as the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and Rutgers and Duke universities — will carry out a risk assessment for manufactured nanoparticles used in consumer products.

Earlier research has focused on the toxicities — the degrees to which the nanoparticles can affect organisms — at the source. It has also shown that nanomaterials can affect marine organisms and change the properties of chemicals they come into contact with. For this project, the researchers intend to evaluate the effect of the nanoparticles on people and aquatic animals at the point of exposure.