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HAZARD ASSESSMENT FOR NANOPARTICLES: REPORT FROM AN INTERDISCIPLINARY WORKSHOP
Citation:
BALBUS, J. M., A. D. MAYNARD, V. L. COLVIN, V. CASTRANOVA, G. P. DASTON, R. A. DENISON, K. L. DREHER, P. L. GOERING, A. M. GOLDBERG, K. M. KULINOWSKI, N. A. MONTEIRO-RIVIERE, G. OBERDORSTER, G. S. OMENN, K. E. PINKERTON, K. S. RAMOS, K. M. REST, J. B. SASS, E. K. SILBERGELD, AND B. A. WONG. HAZARD ASSESSMENT FOR NANOPARTICLES: REPORT FROM AN INTERDISCIPLINARY WORKSHOP. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Research Triangle Park, NC, 115(11):1654-9, (2007).
Impact/Purpose:
This manuscript summarizes the research needs as well as the challenges associated with assessing the potential health effects of nanomaterials as they interaction with various biological systems. It represents a summation of recommendations for a workshop sponsored by ICON and The Woodrow Wilson Center and is the view of a multi-disciplinary group of invited scientists that attended the workshop.
Description:
Abstract This report presents the findings from a nanotoxicology workshop held on April 6-7, 2006 at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. Over two days, 26 scientists from government, academia, industry, and non-profit organizations addressed two specific questions: what information is needed to understand the human health impact of engineered nanoparticles; and how is this information best obtained? In the near-term, most participants noted the need to use existing in vivo toxicological tests to assess hazards of nanoparticles because of their greater familiarity and interpretability. For all types of toxicology tests, the best measures of nanoparticle dose need to be determined. Most agreed that a standard set of nanoparticles should be validated by laboratories worldwide and made available for benchmarking tests of other newly created nanoparticles. Participants concluded that a battery of tests should be developed to uncover particularly hazardous properties. Given the large number of diverse materials, most favored a tiered approach. Over the long term, research aimed at developing a mechanistic understanding of the numerous characteristics that influence nanoparticle toxicity was deemed essential. Predicting the potential toxicity of emerging nanoparticles will require hypothesis-driven research that elucidates how physico-chemical parameters influence toxic effects on biological systems. Research needs should be determined in the context of the current availability of testing methods for nanoscale particles. Finally, the group identified general policy and strategic opportunities to accelerate the development and implementation of testing protocols and ensure that the information generated is translated effectively for all stakeholders.
