You are here : Home > Nanosafe2 Project

Basic info on...


Safe production and use of Nanomaterials

Nanosafe2 Project

​​​The overall aim of NANOSAFE2 is to develop risk assessment and management for secure industrial production of nanoparticles. As the world of nanoparticles is already very wide today, only a finite number of reference cases of nanoparticles will be treated. These cases will be representative of main particle characteristics, main production processes and related risks.​

Published on 5 October 2016

NANOSAFE2 project objectives

NANOSAFE2 starts from the paradigm of risk assessment and risk management, which is used in risk analysis worldwide. In NANOSAFE2 the two different types of risks will be accessed: explosion during manufacturing processes and human health due to nanomaterial exposure. The risk assessments in the project will estimate whether and/or how much damage or injury can be expected from exposures to a given risk agent, and to assist in determining whether these effects are significant enough to require action (modification of production systems, regulations, etc.).

NANOSAFE2 goes beyond classic risk assessment by having a pro-active risk management strategy: choices to be made in order to solve the most vexing problems will be formulated and decision makers, safety regulators and other stakeholders will be involved to formulate preventive measures and guidelines for production processes and safe use.

The different technical subprojects of NANOSAFE2 address the whole items of both risk assessment and risk management.

  • SP1 mainly dedicated to nanoparticle detection addresses exposure assessment and control.
  • SP2 devoted to toxicology allows determining dose-response criteria and identifying hazard.
  • SP3 dealing with safe production technologies gives input to economical factors.
  • SP4 dedicated to social aspects and regulation brings data to legal considerations and societal factors.
​

​Objective 1: Detection and characterization techniques (SP1)

The first objective consists in developing innovative detection, traceability and characterization techniques for engineered particles in both air and liquid media.


Objective 2: Health hazard assessment (SP2)

The purpose of NANOSAFE2 is to provide an overview of existing knowledge on human health and nanomaterials and the further development of promising innovative generic techniques.

NANOSAFE2 will collect and process data recorded from different worldwide sources (literature, partners of the project, national and international reports, industrials, other future European projects, etc.) into a database focusing on two aspects: human health effects and techniques to test human health effects due to nanomaterials. An advisory report will be prepared pointing out the key health problems that can rise from exposure to nanomaterials and on the quality of the techniques presented in the database.

Generic techniques in order to screen possible health effects of nanomaterials will also be developed, focusing on general available nanomaterials such as Carbon Nanotubes, Zinc oxide, Carbon black, Crystalline Silica of a size around 50 nm and no larger than 200 nm.

Objective 3 : Development of secure industrial production systems and safe applications (SP3)​

NANOSAFE2 will develop advanced technologies to limit both exposition to nanoparticles in factories and leaks toward environment by designing safe production equipment, handling automation, dynamic confinement, individual protection devices, filtration, etc. New technologies and procedures developed in this program will then be qualified at 3 industrial sites in the frame of the global risk management strategy proposed here.​

Objective 4: Societal and Environmental aspects (SP4)​

​​​​NANOSAFE2 will evaluate both societal and environmental impacts and contribute indirectly to new legislation and standardization measures relevant for nanoparticles, by involving regulatory bodies (HSL, HVBG-BIA which are members of CEN). This project will insure a large dissemination of knowledge on nanoparticle safety by organizing workshops with world wide standards organizations, promote population awareness, academic and professional training activities.​