International projects
Improving the understanding of the impact of nanoparticles on human health and the environment
Organisations (1)
| no. |
Code |
Research organisation |
City |
Registration number |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
0106 |
Jožef Stefan Institute |
Ljubljana |
5051606000 |
90,767 |
Abstract
Nanotechnology is finding increased application in todays society and is being hailed as the next industrial revolution. Companies around the world are beginning to mass-produce nanoparticles (particles less than 100 nm in size) for use in everything fro m sunscreens to soil reclamation. The production of anthropogenically-derived nanoparticles will inevitably result in the introduction of these materials to the environment. However, despite rapid advances in nanotechnology, knowledge of the potential ri sks of nanoparticles to human health and the environment is limited. There is a concern that size matters with respect to toxicity, irrespective of the chemical composition. There are fears that materials that are biologically inert in bulk tend to becom e harmful in ultrafine particle form. Analogies have been drawn, for example, on the similarity of the structure of carbon nanotubes to asbestos fibres, whose detrimental effects on human health are well documented. There is a need to encourage greater u nderstanding of the short and long term implications of nanotechnology for health and the environment. The primary aim of this CA is to prevent knowledge of the health and environmental implications of nanoparticles from lagging behind the technological advances. In order to do this, IMPART will foster communication links between a number of regional, national and international initiatives in order to reduce duplication of effort, pool expertise and facilitate co-operation between networks. This will re sult in an improvement in the understanding of the potential impact of nanoparticles on human health and the environment.
