This news update on Toxicity of nanomaterials is brought to you by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.
The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety ANSES has just published a review of the available literature on health and environmental issues relating to manufactured nanomaterials. It should help clarify scientific understanding and demonstrate the toxicity of nanomaterials. It also emphasises the complexity of understanding the various situations to which humans and the environment are exposed, and the limitations of existing risk assessment methodologies. It is difficult to assess the specific risks associated with nanomaterials. Given the time it would require, the Agency recommends the immediate implementation of tools to improve risk management through a stronger regulatory framework at European level.
Regarding research, the Agency recommends implementing multidisciplinary projects to develop knowledge of the characteristics and hazards of nanomaterials, throughout the product life cycle.
ANSES believes that the array of available scientific data on the toxicity of certain nanomaterials is sufficient to consider regulating them according to the European CLP (classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures) and REACH (chemicals) Regulations. In this context, ANSES recently published recommendations on adapting the REACH Regulation to take into account the specific characteristics of nanomaterials.
For more information on the toxicity of nanomaterials please visit the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work link above. Please contact Nexreg for REACH compliance.