Assessing the risks in nanotechnology: Commission’s Scientific Committee adopts opinion

Today, the Commission’s independent Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) publishes its opinion on the most recent developments in the risk assessment of nanomaterials. The opinion builds on and confirms earlier ones published in 2006 and 2007. In this latest opinion, SCENIHR indicates that methodologies to assess exposure to manufactured nanomaterials to humans and the environment and the identification of potential hazards require further development. For lack of a general approach, SCENIHR maintains its earlier recommendation to perform risk assessment case-by-case for each nanomaterial.

The SCENIHR’s opinion, citing a number of laboratory studies, identifies some nanomaterials that present hazards to human health and the environment. In particular, carbon nanotubes that resemble asbestos fibres, would pose the same risk. In addition, some studies illustrate that some nanoparticles (NPs) can penetrate cells, generate free radicals, interact with DNA, and interfere with protein assembly. At present, the Commission has no evidence that these hazards exist outside the laboratory but more research is needed on the risk of nanomaterials used in materials available today. As a response to these important findings, SCENIHR calls for co-ordinated research strategies to address these issues and provide comparable and reliable risk assessment data. SCENIHR also stresses that nanomaterials are similar to chemicals in that some may be toxic and some may not. The SCENHIR opinion contributes to current discussions on several legislative EU proposals dealing with nanomaterials.

Furthermore, the Commission is planning to hold a scientific hearing on this SCENHIR opinion. The Commission has been financing research and development projects on nanotechnology since 1998. It will convene the EuroNanoForum 2009 on 2-5 June under the Czech EU Presidency. Concerning risk assessment, the Commission is organizing a meeting to promote information exchange and networking between national risk assessment bodies on 17 March 2009. It will hold the 3rd Nano “Safety for Success” Dialogue on 3-4 November 2009, global conference to review the latest developments in nanotechnology including safety issues. Various actions and events that are being organised on the field make part of the European Action Plan on nanoscience and nanotechnologies (2005-2009). Today, the Commission’s independent Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) publishes its opinion on the most recent developments in the risk assessment of nanomaterials. The opinion builds on and confirms earlier ones published in 2006 and 2007. In this latest opinion, SCENIHR indicates that methodologies to assess exposure to manufactured nanomaterials to humans and the environment and the identification of potential hazards require further development. For lack of a general approach, SCENIHR maintains its earlier recommendation to perform risk assessment case-by-case for each nanomaterial. The SCENIHR’s opinion, citing a number of laboratory studies, identifies some nanomaterials that present hazards to human health and the environment. In particular, carbon nanotubes that resemble asbestos fibres, would pose the same risk. In addition, some studies illustrate that some nanoparticles (NPs) can penetrate cells, generate free radicals, interact with DNA, and interfere with protein assembly. At present, the Commission has no evidence that these hazards exist outside the laboratory but more research is needed on the risk of nanomaterials used in materials available today.

As a response to these important findings, SCENIHR calls for co-ordinated research strategies to address these issues and provide comparable and reliable risk assessment data. SCENIHR also stresses that nanomaterials are similar to chemicals in that some may be toxic and some may not. The SCENHIR opinion contributes to current discussions on several legislative EU proposals dealing with nanomaterials.

Furthermore, the Commission is planning to hold a scientific hearing on this SCENHIR opinion. The Commission has been financing research and development projects on nanotechnology since 1998. It will convene the EuroNanoForum 2009 on 2-5 June under the Czech EU Presidency. Concerning risk assessment, the Commission is organizing a meeting to promote information exchange and networking between national risk assessment bodies on 17 March 2009. It will hold the 3rd Nano "Safety for Success" Dialogue on 3-4 November 2009, global conference to review the latest developments in nanotechnology including safety issues. Various actions and events that are being organised on the field make part of the European Action Plan on nanoscience and nanotechnologies (2005-2009).


SCENIHR Opinion: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_scenihr/scenihr_opinions_en.htm#nano

A layman version of the 2006 opinion is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/health/opinions2/en/nanotechnologies/index.htm

SANCO website on nanotechnologies: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/nanotechnology/nanotechnology_en.htm

European Action Plan on nanoscience and nanotechnologies: "Nanosciences and nanotechnologies: An action plan for Europe 2005-2009" [COM(2005) 243]: http://cordis.europa.eu/nanotechnology/actionplan.htm