On September 27, 2016, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC) met, and its discussion included engineering controls and nanomaterials. Kevin H. Dunn, Sc.D., CIH, a NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology (DART) mechanical engineer and member of NIOSH’s Nanotechnology Research Center, provided an update to the BSC on NIOSH’s evaluations, findings, recommendations, and guidance for reducing occupational exposures to...
October 18, 2016
2016 SNO Conference Will Focus on Sustainable Nanotechnology Systems
The 2016 Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO) conference will be held November 10-12, 2016. The conference sessions will be organized around selected “systems,” and sessions will be populated with talks on applications, effects and implications, analytical methods, and lifecycle aspects of nanomaterials within each system. The aims are to identity where nanomaterials and nanotechnology can improve the sustainability of each system and to foster integration of...
October 11, 2016
EPA Submits Final TSCA Rule on Nanomaterials to OMB for Review
On October 7, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a final rule that would require reporting and recordkeeping information on certain chemical substances when they are manufactured or processed as nanoscale materials. EPA issued a proposed rule, under Section 8(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), on April 6, 2015. EPA proposed to require persons that manufacture or process certain chemical...
On October 19, 2016, the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO) will hold a webinar to announce the Nanotechnology Signature Initiative (NSI): Water Sustainability through Nanotechnology. The webinar will highlight the activities of several participating federal agencies. NNCO states that the webinar will be the first in a series exploring the confluence of nanotechnology and water. Subsequent webinars will each focus on one of the NSI’s...
October 6, 2016
NIOSH Announces Recent Publications on Nanotechnology and Certain Types of Carbon Nanotubes
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently announced the availability of the following publications: Nanotechnology: Delivering on the Promise is a two-volume American Chemical Society symposium report that discusses advances in nanotechnology and the value of precautionary risk management. Editors include NIOSH Associate Director for Nanotechnology Charles L. Geraci, Ph.D., CIH. Lynn L. Bergeson wrote a chapter entitled “Opportunities and...
September 29, 2016
Minnesota Adds Several Nanomaterials to List of Chemicals of High Concern
On September 13, 2016, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced the availability of an updated list of chemicals of high concern. Chemicals added to the list of chemicals of high concern include silicon carbide whiskers (Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Number 409-21-2), carbon nanotubes, multi-walled MWCNT-7 (CAS Number 308068-56-6), and silicon carbide, fibrous (CAS Number 308076-74-6). MDH added these nanomaterials based on their International Agency for Research on Cancer...
September 28, 2016
ISO Publishes Standard for Compilation and Description of Sample Preparation and Dosing Methods for Engineered and Manufactured Nanomaterials
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published ISO/TR 16196:2016, “Nanotechnologies — Compilation and description of sample preparation and dosing methods for engineered and manufactured nanomaterials.” The goal of the standard is to assist scientists and experts to understand, plan, choose, and address issues relevant to nanomaterials before and during toxicological testing. The descriptions of sample preparation method factors for both in vitro and in...
September 23, 2016
Germany Publishes Review of the Joint Research Strategy of the Higher Federal Authorities
Germany Publishes Review of the Joint Research Strategy of the Higher Federal Authorities On September 19, 2016, the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) published a report entitled Review of the joint research strategy of the higher federal authorities — Nanomaterials and other advanced materials: Application safety and environmental compatibility. The report states that in a long-term research strategy, the higher federal authorities responsible for...
September 21, 2016
EPA Researches How Sunscreens Containing Engineered Nanomaterials Might Change When Exposed to Chemicals in Pool Water
An August 15, 2016, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) blog item describes EPA’s research on sunscreens containing engineered nanomaterials and how they might change when exposed to chemicals in pool water. According to EPA, many sunscreens contain titanium dioxide engineered nanomaterials, which are often coated with other materials such as aluminum hydroxide to shield skin from reactive oxygen species. EPA researchers are testing to see whether swimming pool water degrades the...
September 19, 2016
NNCO Will Hold Webinar on Nanotechnology and the Insurance Industry
On September 22, 2016, the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO) will hold a webinar on the insurance industry and the challenges of underwriting nanotechnology and other emerging technologies. NNCO Director Dr. Michael Meador will moderate the webinar discussion. Speakers will include: Allen Gelwick, Executive Vice President of the Lockton Companies; Christie Sayes, Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Toxicology at Baylor University; David...