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Meeting report: hazard assessment for nanoparticles--report from an interdisciplinary workshop
John M Balbus1, Andrew D Maynard, Vicki L Colvin
1Environmental Defense, Washington, DC 20009, USA. jballus@environmentaldefense.org
Environmental Health Perspectives
|November 17, 2007
Summary
Scientists recommend using existing in vivo toxicologic tests for near-term nanoparticle safety assessment. Developing standardized nanoparticle testing and mechanistic research is crucial for understanding human health impacts.
Area of Science:
- Nanotoxicology
- Risk Assessment
- Biomedical Research
Background:
- A 2006 workshop convened 26 scientists to address knowledge gaps in engineered nanoparticle (ENP) human health impact assessment.
- Key questions focused on essential information for understanding ENP toxicity and optimal methods for data acquisition.
Framework:
- Near-term hazard assessment prioritizes familiar and interpretable in vivo toxicologic tests.
- Establishing standardized nanoparticle testing protocols and validated reference materials is essential for benchmarking.
- A tiered approach to testing is favored due to the diversity of ENP materials.
Implementation:
- Accurate determination of nanoparticle dose is critical across all toxicology testing modalities.
- Developing a comprehensive battery of tests is recommended to identify particularly hazardous ENP properties.
- Long-term research should focus on elucidating the mechanistic links between physicochemical properties and nanoparticle toxicity.
Implications:
- Hypothesis-driven research is needed to predict the toxicity of emerging nanoparticles by understanding structure-activity relationships.
- Research priorities must consider the availability of current nanoscale particle testing methods.
- Policy and strategic initiatives are required to accelerate testing protocol development and ensure effective information translation for stakeholders.
