Taking Science Beyond Borders: Global EHS Issues of Nanotechnology

Kristen M. Kulinowski, PhD | kk@rice.edu

I ♥ (Especially in the summer.)

Global EHS Issues of Nanotechnology

Nanomaterials

Nanomaterials

Materials

~1-100 nm

Special properties

Materials

• Carbons – e.g., Fullerenes, nanotubes

• Oxides– e.g., TiO2, ZnO, SiO2, CeO2, Fe3O4

• Metals– e.g., Ag, Fe, Al, Si, Zn, Cu, Ni

• Semiconductors– e.g., CdSe, CdS, InAs, InP

• Polymers/organics– e.g., liposomes, dendrimers

• Hybrids– e.g., nanoshells

Nanomaterial Variability

Credit: Zhong Lin Wang

Size

Atom~0.1 nm

Nanoparticle~1-100 nm

Colloidal particle>100 nm

Small Size → Large Surface Area

Mass ≈ 43,000 lbSA = 6 m2

1 m

Mass ≈ 43,000 lbSA = 24 m2

¼ m

Each side = ¼ meterEach side = 1 meter

State of Delaware: < 2000 sq miles

≈ 8 ft x 8 ft room

Gold

Mass ≈ 43,000 lbSA ≈ 6 billion m2

≈ 2500 sq miles

Each side = 1 nanometer

Size-Dependent Properties

Fe3O4, Magnetite (4 nm)

Magnetism Emission

CdSe (8 nm) Gold (~ 10 nm)

Reactivity

Special [chemical, physical, electrical, mechanical, thermal] properties

Special BIOLOGICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL properties

?

Cancer Therapy

Tumor Detection

Water Treatment

(a.)

(b.)

(c.)

451-483 nm 483-515 nm 515-547 nm 558-579 nm 590-644 nm

Beneficial Interactions

J. West R. Drezek V. Colvin

Cure cancer?Clean up environment?

Cause cancer?Pollute environment?

If there is an interaction…

Workers Consumers

Environment

Potential Targets of Risk

Addressing Applications & Implications

The International Council on NanotechnologyA multi-stakeholder forum for addressing nanotechnology’s potential risks

icon.rice.edu

The Center for Biological & Environmental NanotechnologyAn NSF center of excellence in nanotechnology research & educationcben.rice.edu

Research and Education

Information and Community-Building

International Council on Nanotechnology

Multistakeholder cooperation International perspective

Stewards for sustainabilityGrounded in science

Developing and communicating information regarding potential environmental and health risks of nanotechnology to foster risk reduction and maximize societal benefit.

INCLUSIVE GLOBAL

TECHNICAL PROACTIVE

ICON’s Reach

Virtual Journal of NanoEHS

• Monthly updates• Over 3100 records• Backgrounders on key

literature

Database of citations to peer-reviewed nanoEHS papers

http://icon.rice.edu/virtualjournal.cfm

[out of five]“This paper makes a major contribution to the literature …”

EHS Publication Pace is Increasing

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20080

100

200

300

400

500

600

NanoEHS Papers

Source: http://icon.rice.edu/report.cfm

Hazard Data Outstrip Exposure Data

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20080

50

100

150

200

250

300

Papers on Hazard vs. Exposure

Hazard Exposure

Source: http://icon.rice.edu/report.cfm

Cytotoxicity

Ecotoxicity

Mammalian Toxicity

Hazard Studies

BUT…

Dose Dose metrics

Validating assays Characterization

Batch-to-batch variability

Standards

Occupational Research Limited

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20080

100

200

300

400

500

600

EHS Publications All Occupational

Source: http://icon.rice.edu/report.cfm

Key Questions for People Working with Nanomaterials

• What are you doing now?• What do you need to know to do the best job?• Where are you going for information?

Workers: Survey of Current Handling Practices

Key findings• Nano-specific EHS programs

and training are widely reported

• Actual practices do not depart from conventional chemical safety practices

• Active interest in additional information

• Main impediment: Lack of information and guidance

First comprehensive, international survey of handling practices in the nanotech workplace

http://tinyurl.com/ICONSurveyand

Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008, 42, 3155-3162

Some Resources for Handling Nano

US Canada Europe

IRSSTDOE NSRC NIOSH NanoSafe2 BAUA

E2535-07 ISO/TR 12885 PD 6699-2:2007

Common Messages

• Nanomaterial behavior may differ from that of non-nanoscale analogs

• Some nanomaterials may pose health risks if exposure is present

• Hazard and exposure data do not yet provide a clear picture of risk

MINIMIZING EXPOSURE IS PRUDENT

Barriers to Information

Sharing

How do we get

Timely

Practical

High-quality

information out

to ALL the target populations?

Introducing the GoodNanoGuide

• Protected Internet site on occupational practices for the safe handling of nanomaterials• Multiple stakeholders contribute, share and discuss information• Modern, interactive, up-to-date

http://GoodNanoGuide.org

What is a Wiki?

Anyone can edit the pagesEditing is easy and requires no special tools

Formatting is simpleChanges are easily tracked

Wikis for Dummies

A Wiki is central, shared repository of online information

Why a Wiki for Nano Handling Practices?

Features Guidance Document Research Paper Wiki Entry

Describes a specific practice No Maybe YES

Written by practitioners Maybe Maybe YES

Written for practitioners Maybe No YES

Engages global community No Maybe YES

Provides a forum for dialog No No YES

Easily accessed YES No YES

Wiki Generates Global Interest

AustraliaBelgium

BrazilCanada

DenmarkFrance

GermanyIndiaNew

ZealandSouth Africa

SwitzerlandUSAUK

Admin Co-chairs Planners Testers

Global locations of current participants

Interacting with the GoodNanoGuide

No Registration Required

Register as a User

Register as a Provider

VIEW

COMMENT

CONTRIBUTE

Implementation Committee

Dr. Michael RiedikerInstitute for Work and Health

Mr. Bruce StockmeierArgonne National Lab

Dr. Kristen KulinowskiRice University

Mr. Matthew JaffeCrowell & Moring

Dr. Mark HooverNIOSH

Dr. Steve HankinSafeNano

Ms. Ilise FeitshansInternational Labour Organization

Mr. Victor JonesNanoTechBC

Dr. Paul-Émile BoileauIRSST

Mr. Steve BrownIntel

Dr. Charles GeraciNIOSH

Gary AlbachnanoAlberta

Screenshot for Providers

36

A Sample Protocol

37

Contribute & Edit using Familiar Tools

Format textHyperlink

SymbolsInsert picture or flash

Conclusions

• Nanomaterials pose many complex challenges to the occupational safety professional

• There are good resources out there already• New knowledge is evolving rapidly and from

many corners of the globe

Let’s pool our knowledge for the benefit of all

Acknowledgments

• ICON “GoodWiki” project planning team• GoodNanoGuide Implementation Committee• Survey Respondents• Kathryn Cavender (Rice Univ)• NIOSH• AIHA Nanotechnology Working Group

GoodNanoGuide Sponsors

41

Now available at http://goodnanoguide.org

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