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The commercial use of nanotechnology is continuing to grow and expand, as are calls to improve its safety and environmental impact.

Many different types of nanomaterials and nanotechniques exist, but not enough effort has gone into the management of safety-related risks, which come with significant costs, experts say. The size of nanoparticles presents virtually unlimited opportunities for the development of product characteristics, although they can become toxic if they enter the bloodstream.

Nanoparticles less than 100 nanometres in size and used in engineered nanomaterials (ENM). As well as presenting a risk to human health, ENM are capable of causing harm in other mammals and scientifically important plankton such as daphnia magna.

The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) and the Academy of Finland are therefore hosting a panel discussion on ‘nanosafety’ in association with the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) conference in Manchester on 23-27 July.

The panel discussion will take place under the heading ‘The small matter of safety – responsible use of nanotechnology’.

Professor Kai Savolainen of the FIOH said: “There are thousands of nano-enabled products on the market intended for consumers, but we still have limited knowledge about the effects of ENM on human health and the environment. Furthermore, there are tens of thousands of different ENM of which no more than 200 are being used commercially. Many of them are harmless, but some may be hazardous to health, and even cause cancer. In addition, many of these materials may, in higher amounts, cause environmental harm.”

The EU framework programme Horizon 2020 is contributing to the responsible use of nanotechnology by funding research projects that address the health and safety of nanomaterials. NANOSOLUTIONS, for example, is co-ordinated by FIOH for the development of a ‘Nanosafety Classifier’ – a predictive principle for the assessment of ENM safety.

To find out more about the ESOF conference, click here.