Environmental Effects and Risk Evaluation of Engineered Nanoparticle

The objective of the project Environmental Effects and Risk Evaluation of Engineered Nanoparticles
(EnvNano) is to elucidate the particle specific properties that govern the ecotoxicological effects of
engineered nanoparticles and in this way shift the paradigm for environmental risk assessment of
nanomaterials.
While current activities in the emerging field of nano-ecotoxicology and environmental risk assessment of
nanomaterials are based on the assumption that the methodologies developed for chemicals can be adapted to
be applicable for nanomaterials, EnvNano has a completely different starting point:
The behaviour of nanoparticles in suspension is fundamentally different from that of chemicals in solution.
Therefore, all modifications of existing techniques that do not take this fact into account are bound to have a
limited sphere of application or in the worst case to be invalid. By replacing the assumption of dissolved
chemicals with a particle behaviour assumption, the traditional risk assessment paradigm will be so seriously
impaired that a shift of paradigm will be needed. EnvNano is based on the following hypotheses:
1. The ecotoxicity and bioaccumulation of engineered nanoparticles will be a function of specific
physical and chemical characteristics of the nanoparticles.
2. The environmental hazards of engineered nanoparticles cannot be derived from hazard
identifications of the material in other forms.
3. Existing regulatory risk assessment procedures for chemicals will not be appropriate to assess the
behaviour and potential harmful effects of engineered nanoparticles on the environment.
These research hypotheses will be addressed in the four interacting research topics of EnvNano: Particle
Characterization, Ecotoxicity, Bioaccumulation, and Framework for Risk Evaluation of Nanoparticles aimed
to form the foundation for a movement from coefficient-based to kinetic-based environmental
nanotoxicology and risk assessment. When successful, this will lead to significant changes in the way risk
assessments of ENPs are performed. Thereby potential problematic ENPs may be identified at an early stage
in the product development and safer alternatives may be found. In the light of the public concerns such
knowledge is a pre-requisite to a successful large-scale commercialization of nanotechnology.