A new website that helps guide industry professionals and the public with matters related to nanomaterials has been launched by the European Union.

The European Chemicals Agency, a chemical regulatory body of the EU, launched the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials website earlier this month, calling it a resource with information about the safety, innovation, research and uses of the materials.

Nanomaterial Concerns

Nanomaterials are generally defined as substances in which a single unit is between one and 100 nanometers; the EU definition for regulatory purposes is slightly more complex. While nanomaterials like graphene particles and carbon nanotubes have shown promise in applications including specialty protective coatings, relatively little is known about the safety of such tiny particles. Some studies have suggested that carbon nanomaterials may be linked with adverse effects on the lungs and possibly cancer.

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The new website aims to define nanomaterials and make available information on research regarding the substances.

The EUON is a three-part initiative by the ECHA to build a greater knowledge base about nanomaterials. The website is phase one of the project, and aims to define nanomaterials and make available information on research regarding the substances.

Later phases will involve detailed product information.

U.S. Nano Discussion

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency earlier this year issued a new rule on reporting and recordkeeping requirements for nanoscale materials. In 2013, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health suggested limiting worker exposure to carbon nanotubes and nanofibers to 1.0 microgram per cubic meter as a time-weighted average over an eight-hour day.