Managing the Risks of Engineered Nanomaterials

Engineered nanomaterials are materials intentionally created or selected to be near-atomic scale structures and have, at a minimum, a single dimension on the order of 1 to 100 nanometers. The physiochemical properties of engineered nanomaterials may be fundamentally different from larger materials of the same composition leading to novel size-related properties.  Concern over exposure to engineered nanomaterials is, to a large degree, driven by uncertainty. Research has shown that the physiochemical characteristics of nanomaterials can influence their toxicity and transport in biological systems. Managing the risks of engineered nanomaterials and the uncertainty associated with those risks requires a specialized environmental, safety, and health (ES&H) program to be developed. Information on nanomaterials, their potential risks and the development of an effective ES&H program, including controls for research and development laboratory operations, verifying program effectiveness, transportation of nanomaterials, and management of nanomaterial-bearing spills and waste streams is presented. The presentation includes examples from recent laboratory and field studies as well the real world implementation of a nanomaterials ES&H program at Sandia National Laboratories, where there are over 50 different laboratory research and development operations using engineered nanomaterials of various types.