Nanotechnology, the evolving area of science and technology at the nanoscale (one millionth of a millimeter), is an emerging area of focus in the field of toxicology and risk assessment. Although small by definition, nanotechnology has garnered enormous attention globally for beneficial use in various products and applications (e.g., medical, consumer, automotive, textile, chemical); yet it has also raised significant concern about potential occupational, consumer, and environmental exposure and risk. Given the novel combination of size, structure, and physical/chemical properties, engineered nanomaterials present unique challenges to understanding potential environmental, health, and safety hazards over the life cycle of their use.

ChemRisk^® staff have more than 10 years of combined professional experience researching, evaluating, and reporting on nanomaterials, and have published articles and book chapters that address potential occupational, consumer and environmental exposure and risk issues. In addition our staff have conducted webinars on nanotechnology in collaboration with legal experts and representatives from the FDA, which have presented expert guidance on toxicology and risk frameworks to help clients understand important questions related to nanomaterials. ChemRisk^® staff have also been regularly involved in conferences and seminars related to nanoscience, including serving as the liaison for AIHA’s Nanotechnology Working Group.

ChemRisk^® staff also leverage extensive knowledge and experience on evaluating the often complex regulatory, health, and environmental profiles of other smaller scale materials including asbestos fibers, welding fumes, ultrafine particles, and other legacy and novel compounds.

Examples of our services in Nanotechnology include:

• Regulatory impact appraisals (e.g., under TSCA and REACH);
• State-of-the-Art and weight of evidence based reviews of the science of nanomaterials;
• Exposure and risk assessments in manufacturing
• Best practice recommendations in product stewardship
• Exposure and risk evaluations of use in consumer products
• Ecological fate/transport, bioavailability, and risk
• Evaluation of sustainability issues (e.g., life cycle risks; tradeoff analysis of proposed replacements or next generation materials);
• Best practice recommendations in proactive/anticipatory toxicity testing