NanoRisk - A Conceptual Decision Support Tool for Nanomaterials

Only a few risk assessment methodologies and approaches are useful for assessing the risk for professional end-users, consumers and the environment. We have developed a generic framework (NanoRiskCat) that can be used by companies and risk assessors to categorize nanomaterials considering existing environmental, health and safety information and known uncertainties. In NanoRiskCat’s simplest form, the final evaluation outcome for a specific nanomaterial in a given application will be communicated in the form of a short title (e.g. TiO2 in sunscreen) describing the use of the nanomaterial. This short title is followed by a color code where the first three colored bullets always refer to potential exposure of professional end-users, consumers and the environment in that sequence and the last two colored bullets always refer to the hazard potential for humans and the environment. The colors assigned to the exposure and hazard potential are green , yellow corresponding to none, possible, expected and unknown, respectively. The exposure potential was evaluated based on 1) the location of the nanomaterial and 2) a judgment of the potential of nanomaterial exposure based on the description and explanation of each process, category, etc. The hazard potential for humans is evaluated based on whether the nanomaterial in question is known as a compound to have low solubility in water (biodurable); fulfil the fiber paradigm; be regulated harder than nuisance materials, to have CMR-properties or other adverse effects? The environmental hazard potential is based on whether the nanomaterial in question is known to be: readily dispersed, persistent, bioaccumulative, and/or has been reported to be hazardous to environmental species.