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

NanoSafetyCluster - Compendium 2012
Table 1 Workpackages (WP) of NanoHouse
WP Title Topic
1 Life Cycle Thinking
2 Source
Identification
This workpackage aims at investigating the potential health, safety and environmental (EHS) impacts during
all life cycle stages of façade coating products containing ENP. A first attempt of a comparative Life Cycle
Assessment (LCA) study in accordance with the ISO 14’040 standards shall be established; supporting the
comprehensive assessment of the EHS impacts along the complete life cycle and allowing a comparison with
traditional façade coatings, not containing ENPs. This WP is designed to systematically combine the
quantitative risk assessment data on toxicology (WP4) and environmental fate (WP3) with other relevant
knowledge on EHS impacts during the life cycle stages of façade coatings such as exposure situations (WP2)
during the use phase among others. The combination of Life Cycle Thinking with the current knowledge on
risk assessment may provide a basis for informed decision making by the industry and regulators.
WP2 aims at simulating ENPs releases in conditions representative of ageing of the paints but also during
critical renovation operations, to quantify the flux of ENPs released and to gain insight into the mechanisms
of ENPs released. The physical-chemical properties of the ENPs released will be characterised. The so called
“aged ENPs” produced will be then be delivered to partners of WP3 and WP4 for environmental fate and
toxicological studies.
3 Environmental fate Nanoparticles released from the outside of buildings directly into the environment are under the influence
of physical, chemical and biological processes that determine their fate and behaviour and ultimately their
influence on biota and possibly also humans. Aggregation and dissolution reactions may strongly affect the
longevity and transport of the ENPs and thus their persistency and distribution to environmental
compartments. This WP aims to investigate the reactions of released ENPs in water (WP3-2, in the soil (WP3-
3) and in plants (WP3-4) then modelling the fate of the released ENP in the soil-water-plant-human system
(WP3-5).
4 Hazard
characterization
5 Safer use and
waste
management
Project dissemination, ethics and nanorisks issues (WP6)
The mechanisms of action of fine and ultrafine particles on the human health are not yet fully understood.
this WP focuses on processes such as translocation, changes in the cell-layer, oxidative stress, pulmonary
(and systemic) inflammation. First in ENPs translocation, biokinetics and bioavailability studies in cellular and
animal models (WP4-1) then in Specific citotoxicity study of aged ENPs compared to pristine ENPs in order to
highlight health effects (allergy and asthma) to be expected of ENP being present in coating (WP4-2).
Hazard of the original (pristine) material, but also the product in combination with its solvents (the whole
commercial product), and the “aged” product after use and disposure, have to be considered.
This workpackage The assessment and properly management of end-of-life of nano-based products are key
aspects to be investigated for successfully applying life cycle concepts and for developing eco-friendly
products. The main rationale behind this WP is :
1 ) to estimate the impacts caused by the end-of-life treatment based on a description of state of the art
concerning waste management of nano-based applications (WP5-1) and on a determination of
geomembrane permeability for ENPs (WP5-3)
2) to provide appropriate solutions for the end-of-life treatment (WP5-2) and propose safety improvement
of selected nanoproducts (WP5-4)
The dissemination of the results takes place step by step. Firstly
the reports will be the base for dialogues with industries and
regulators. Secondly the project relevant information for
industrial and private consumers will be disseminated on the
NanoHOUSE website. Furthermore, short dissemination reports
for the public at large will be broadcasted. An additional part on
the risk management will be built up based on the results of the
project and made available through the e-learning interactive
software Nanosmile 1 already developed in the frame of
NanoSafe2 project and available on the Internet. Finally, the
project will give recommendations for the transferability of the
methods that have been validated to other application domains
where nanomaterials are increasingly used such as cosmetics,
automotive, aeronautics and space.
114 Compendium of Projects in the European NanoSafety Cluster