Timing, hosts and locations of (grouped) events of NanoImpactNet

NanoSafetyCluster - Compendium 2012
1 Summary
NanoHouse project in some words:
NanoHouse collaborative project is founded by the European
Commission in the frame of FP7 programs: NMP-2009-1.3-1 &
ENV2009.3.1.3.2 “Activities towards the development of
appropriate solutions for the use, recycling and/or final
treatment of nanotechnology-based products.
This project started January 2010 for a duration of 42 months
(until 06/2013) and a total budget of 3.1 M€.
The current and projected applications of Engineered
NanoParticles (ENPs) span a very wide range of industrial and
consumer sectors such as : biomedicine, pharmaceuticals,
cosmetics, new sources of energy, environmental analysis and
remediation, material science . At the same time, the potential
impact of these new materials their production and their lifecycle
implications on the places where people live on
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is a key issue regarding
the future acceptability and sustainability of nanoproducts. In
this perspective, buildings and individual houses are critical in
that they constitute the major surrounding of people in
developed countries.
The NanoHOUSE project concentrate on this issue and aims at
promoting a responsible and sustainable development of
2 Background
Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies (N&N) provide many
opportunities to significantly improve materials properties and
sustainability. The current and projected applications of
Engineered NanoParticles (ENPs) span a very wide range of
industrial and consumer sectors such as: biomedicine,
pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, new sources of energy,
environmental analysis and remediation, material sciences
At the same time, the potential impact of these new materials
their production and their life-cycle implications on the places
where people live on human health and the environment is
viewed with apprehension by citizens. A growing body of
scientific evidence indicates that exposure to some ENPs can
lead to harmful effects. In the Nanotechnology Action Plan 2004
(COM(2004) 338), the European Commission highlighted that
“R&D need to take into account the impacts of nanotechnology
throughout the whole of their life-cycle”. In the “Nanosciences
and nanotechnologies: An action plan for Europe 2005-2009
(2005)” it is emphasized as well: “Health, safety and
environmental risks that may be associated with products and
applications of N&N need to be addressed upfront and
throughout their life cycle”. Therefore, the environmental and
health consequences of these materials, their production and
nanomaterials in building industry through a Life Cycle
Thinking approach.
The NanoHOUSE project focuses on the most commonly used
ENPs in construction materials : nano-Ag , nano-TiO 2 and nano-
SiO 2 comprised in large amounts in paints and coatings for
indoor and outdoor applications.
The goal of this project is to gather and to generate, when
missing, reliable scientific information and analysis, using
appropriate methodologies to understand the potential EHS
impacts of nanoproducts used in building (coatings and paints).
the life-cycle implications of the products deserve attention
now, during the early stages of development. This is a key issue
regarding the future acceptability and sustainability of
nanoproducts.
As far as human chronic exposure is concerned, addressing the
issue of safety, and consequently of acceptability of
nanoproducts calls for a focus on the places where people live.
In this perspective, buildings and individual houses are critical in
that they constitute the major surrounding of people in
developed countries. The NanoHOUSE project will concentrate
on this issue.
Therefore, the NanoHOUSE project covers not only a group of a
specific population, but all the population and addresses a
complementary issue of FP6-Nanosafe2 project that was
focused on the human exposure at the working place.
Indeed, through the use of many different types of ENPs such as
silica (hardener, antireflection effect), zinc oxide, titanium
dioxide, cerium oxide (anti-UV) and silver (biocide),
nanotechnologies have been introduced in construction
materials: concrete, glass window, coatings for metallic pieces,
anti-scratch floor coatings, concrete or wooden façade
112 Compendium of Projects in the European NanoSafety Cluster