Engineered Nanomaterials and Human and Environmental Health: Research Strategies to Address Potential Risks

Engineered nanomaterials have structured components less than 100 nanometers or 0.1 μm in greatest diameter. Products with nanomaterials as their basis are diverse, including diagnostic and therapeutic agents, stain-resistant clothing, solar cells, sun blocks, and cosmetics, and an expanding array of applications is anticipated. The increasing production and use of engineered nanomaterials may lead to greater exposures of workers, consumers, and the environment, and raises concerns about potential harms to human and ecosystem health. This paper addresses the general topic of research on engineered nanomaterials, health, and the environment. It covers the history of research planning on engineered nanomaterials, giving emphasis to the recent reports from a committee of the US National Research Council. The two reports from this committee offered a framework-based research strategy intended to address critical uncertainties. This paper ends with general lessons learned from experience with engineered nanomaterials that may apply to other emerging environmental threats. © 2014, Springer International Publishing AG.