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A Research Program on the Potential for Effects of Engineered Nanomaterials on Biological Systems
Citation:
Boyes, W. A Research Program on the Potential for Effects of Engineered Nanomaterials on Biological Systems. Presented at 16th International Conference on Nanotoxicology, September 04 - 07, 2012.
Impact/Purpose:
Will present at the 16th International Conference on Nanotoxicology, September 4-7, 2012, Beijing, China, organized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Description:
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development, has developed a research program to evaluate the potential implications of engineered nanomaterials for human health and the environment. Among the major themes of the program are evaluating the inherent chemical and physical properties of nanomaterials that influence their transport, transformation and potential persistence in environmental media and biological systems. Another focus of the research is determining the effects of engineered nanomaterials on biological systems including human health and aquatic and terrestrial plant and animal life. This research is intended to identify key pathways leading to adverse outcomes, and eventually develop screening approaches to efficiently evaluate the potential risks of novel engineered nanomaterials. In vitro systems and other efficient assays that reflect potentially sensitive target tissues in the human body or key ecological species, and important mechanisms of toxicity are a focus of research. In addition, another research effort has the goal of developing life-cycle assessments of nanomaterials including a cradle-to-grave evaluation of the generation, use and disposal of nanomaterial enabled products. In this large framework, one research program is currently centered on identification of photo-catalyst nanomaterials, such as TiO2, and exploring their propensity to engage in photo-toxic reactions in sensitive tissues through the photo-catalytic generation of reactive oxygen species. This example of a research project in the larger context of a research program will illustrate the current approach of the US EPA to identify and assess the potential risks of engineered nanomaterials, with the overall goal of enabling better design, manufacture and use of engineered nanomaterials, while minimizing potential risks to human health or the environment. This abstract does not reflect EPA policy.