Environmental Health & Safety of Nanomaterials

Physical and chemical transformations of silver nanomaterials in textiles after use

Gorka D.E., Gorham J.M., National Institute of Standards and Technology, US

Nanomaterials have been increasingly used in consumer products and silver nanomaterials (AgNMs) especially have been used for their antibacterial properties. Increased use of AgNMs in consumer products will result in their increased disposal and entrance [...]

Cataphotolysis of Propanil in water using nanotechnology

Yu Z., Wu V., Li Z., California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, US

Irrigation of farmland consumed approximately 80% of total water usage in California. The costs associated with groundwater monitoring and cleansing have cost the state more than $33 millions of dollars. This research project has significant [...]

Advancing Sustainable Manufacturing of Carbon Nanomaterials and Devices through Life Cycle Assessment

Shih W-S, Chappell M.A., Kennedy A.J., Brewer Science, Inc, US

Responsible development of nanotechnology and fostering nanotechnology into products for commercial and public benefit are two of the four long-standing National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) goals [1]. To achieve these goals, nanotechnology-related environmental, health, and safety [...]

The aging and release of pristine and functionalized carbon nanotubes from epoxy-nanocomposites during accelerated weathering

Sahle-Demessie E., Han C., Zhao A., Gagliardi N., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, US

Epoxies are widely used in various applications, including coatings, electronics insulations, and waterproofing applications due to their excellent properties such as good adhesion, electrical insulation, and heat resistance along with the strong mechanical property. Currently, [...]

Canada’s Approach for Assessment of Nanomaterials in Commerce : Prioritization and Tools for Assessing Consumer Exposure

Zhang Y., L. Lemieux C., Zein Aghaij M., Vladisavljevic D., Hill M., Health Canada, CA

Given the ever increasing use of manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) worldwide, Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada have undertaken an initiative to prioritize and assess nanomaterials in commerce in Canada for risk to human [...]

Update on evaluation of enhanced darkfield microscopy and hyperspectral mapping for analysis of airborne nanoparticulate collected on filter-based media

Neu-Baker N.M., Eastlake A., Brenner S.A., State University of New York Polytechnic Institute, College of Nanoscale Science, US

Current best-known methods for engineered nanomaterial (ENM) exposure assessment in occupational environments include the capture of airborne ENMs onto filter media.1–3 The current standard method for the analysis of filter media is direct visualization via [...]

Effects of III-V Semiconductor Nanowires on Human Lung Cancer Cells

Abariute L., Prinz C.N., Lund University, SE

Nanotechnology empowers existing technologies and enriches the effectiveness of new applications. One of the great examples are III-V semiconductor nanowires (NW), which have a broad application range, from electronics and energy-conversion to biological applications [1]. [...]

Nanoparticles and Nano-polymer Composite Interactions with Microbial Biofilm

Sahle-Demessie E., Jing H., Sorial G.A., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, US

Environmental biofilms are efficient binding matrices for nanoparticles (NPs) and this can be attributed largely to the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that hold biofilms together. There is a significant accumulations of NPs occurred in biofilms [...]

Environmental Health & Safety of Nanomaterials

Characterization of Nanosilica Release from a Weathered Nanosilica/Polyurethane Coating

Hsueh H-C, Lu C-Y, Huang S-R, Cheng Y.L., Jacobs D., Rabb S.A., Yu L.L., Nguyen T., Sung L., National Institute of Standards and Technology, US

Polymer nanocoatings are widely used outdoor environment because the excellent properties. The addition of nanoparticles can improve performance properties including mechanical, electrical, chemical and ultraviolet resistance. However, because polymer in coating are susceptible to degradation [...]