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John Mens, Leefmilieu Nico van den Brink, Wageningen university

Nanoparticles and their unknown effects on the environment and health WEP Workshop 10 february 2009. Evaluation questionnaire??. John Mens, Leefmilieu Nico van den Brink, Wageningen university. Programme. Introducing Leefmilieu (Human Environment) Introducing Nanotechnology

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John Mens, Leefmilieu Nico van den Brink, Wageningen university

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  1. Nanoparticles and their unknown effects on the environment and healthWEP Workshop 10 february 2009 Evaluation questionnaire?? John Mens, Leefmilieu Nico van den Brink, Wageningen university

  2. Programme • Introducing Leefmilieu (Human Environment) • Introducing Nanotechnology • Nico van den Brink • The case of the washing machine • Question for you...

  3. Vereniging Leefmilieu • Environmental association • Supporting local community groups • Working on issues that need expert knowledge (on legal and/or environmental issues) • Issues: permits of companies, public participation, air pollution, right to know and nanotechnology

  4. Nanotechnology

  5. Introduction on nanotechnology • What is nanotechnology? • Producing and manipulating nanoparticles • What are nanoparticles? • Very tiny (nano is 10-9) • Workdefinition: in at least 1 dimension < 100 nm 300 nm 1000 nm

  6. Introduction on nanotechnology How tiny?

  7. Introduction on nanotechnology • Every substance can occur as nanoparticle (NP) How many? • Different origin: • Natural (volcano, forrest fire, galaxy) • Unintended (PM 0.1 air pollution, ultra fine dust) • Manufactured (carbon black in tires and toner, but NP are also medicines and ipods)

  8. Introduction on nanotechnology • Rise of nanotechnology “There is plenty of room at the bottom” • Electronics/ICT: Moore’s law (miniaturize) • Biology: the cell level (DNA) • Chemistry: synthesizing molecules • Physics: being able to see at the atomscale

  9. About risks still a lot is unknown

  10. Introduction nanotechnology • Possible dangers: • Environment • water =>fish • soil =>bacteria • air =>animals, humans • Lungs • PM .01? • New asbestos? • Intestines • inflammation? • Skin

  11. Introduction nanotechnology • Paracelsus: • "Allein die Dosis macht das Gift" • (De dosis maakt het vergif) • The dose and the particle size… • Number of particles • Shape • Chemical surface • Etc…

  12. (nm) Dosage? Number of particles and their surface per 10 microgram dust /m3, depending on their diameter (nm)

  13. Introduction nanotechnology • Problems: • Mass: NP are very tiny, => traditional dose-response does no longer apply. • Toxicology: effects of NP may differ. A knowledge gap exists. • Detection : due to the size of NP and lack of knowledge detection is difficult. • Law: current legislation is in place on all chemicals, but how does one control an undetectable substance?

  14. Introduction nanotechnology • A new technology: • medicine for cancer or the new asbestos? Any questions?

  15. Second presentation • Dr.Ir. N.W. (Nico) van den Brink Senior scientific researcher, Wageningen University

  16. Third presentation • Applications of nanoparticles in consumer goods • Governmental policy vs market The case of the washing machine

  17. Applications Nanotechnology is used in all type of consumerproducts

  18. Government vs. industry • Governmental • Agencies • Gezondheidsraad (2006) • VWA (2008) • RIVM (2008) • Kabinet vision(2006) • Letter of Minister on the Environment Cramer (2008) • Policy (2008)

  19. Health Council of the Netherlands wrote in a report on nanotechnology in 2006 The very properties that make nanoparticles so interesting from a technological perspective, such as their high degree of reactivity and ability to cross barriers, could also make them hazardous to people and to the environment.

  20. Dutch Government • Minister Cramer: Current legislation is enough to regulate nanotechnology. However it is possible that in time with better knowledge some apllications may be banned…

  21. Industry • What is in it? How does it work?....

  22. The case of the washing machine RIVM (2007) Nanodeeltjes in water; p. 25: Samsung washing machine with nanosilver threatens sewage works. This application was banned in Sweden. USA regulates it with their pesticide regulations. In Germany and Australia are protest. It seems this application will end soon… Samsung helpdesk (2009): SilverCare™ clean It’s being used in all Samsung machines on the Dutch market

  23. Question for you • What are the primary questions raised by this presentation?

  24. Nano Publicaties • BUND Publications on Nanotech: • Aus dem Labor auf den Teller • (http://www.bund.net/fileadmin/bundnet/publikationen/nanotechnologie/20080311_nanotechnologie_lebensmittel_studie.pdf) • BUND-Positionspapier: Für einen verantwortungsvollen Umgang mit der Nanotechnologie • (http://www.bund.net/fileadmin/bundnet/pdfs/chemie/20070500_chemie_position_nano.pdf; English version available upon request) • FoE Nano Publications: • FoE Europe/US/Australia: From the laboratory and on to our plates • (http://www.foeeurope.org/activities/nanotechnology/Documents/Nano_food_report.pdf) • FoE Europe: Nanotechnology and the current legislation – Position Paper (http://www.foeeurope.org/activities/nanotechnology/Documents/Legislation%20briefing_Nov07.pdf) • FoE US: Nanotechnology and Sunscreens (http://www.foeeurope.org/activities/nanotechnology/Documents/FoEUS_Nano_Sunscreen.pdf) • FoE Australia: Nanotechnology in Sunscreens and Cosmetics (http://www.foeeurope.org/activities/nanotechnology/nanocosmetics.pdf) • Joint NGO Paper: Principles for the Oversight of Nanotechnologies and Nanomaterials • (http://www.icta.org/doc/Principles%20for%20the%20Oversight%20of%20Nanotechnologies%20an d%20Nanomaterials_final.pdf) • Kriterien zur Kontrolle von Nanotechnologien und Nanomaterialien • (http://www.bund.net/fileadmin/bundnet/publikationen/nanotechnologie/20080220_nanotechnologie_kontrolle_kriterien.pdf)

  25. Nano websites Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars - Nanotech Project (Reports on nano issues and inventory of nano consumer products) http://www.nanotechproject.org/ NanoWerk (Nano News Site & Information Portal) http://www.nanowerk.com/ University of Wisconsin-Madison NSEC (Nanotechnology Risk Resources) http://www.nsec.wisc.edu/NanoRisks/NS--NanoRisks.php ETC group Nanotech Website http://www.etcgroup.org/en/issues/nanotechnology.html FoE Australia Nanotech Campaign http://nano.foe.org.au/ FoE US Nanotech Campaign http://www.suv.org/camps/comm/nanotech/index.html FoE Europe Nano Website http://www.foeeurope.org/activities/nanotechnology/index.htm

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