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

NanoSafetyCluster - Compendium 2011
particular concerning the timely generation of deliverables and
milestones.
Additional regular project meetings have been taken place in
Ispra/Italy (16-18 November 2010), in Glasgow/UK (10-11 May 2011)
and in Venice-Mestre/Italy (24 November 2011), where partners
met to discuss the progress of work and results obtained during
the first 18 months, and to prepare the next steps due for the
second project period (M19-36) according to the work plan.
The 1 st Periodic Report has been prepared and submitted to the EU
Commission in December 2011.
5.2 Work package 2 (WP2)
In WP2 a material database has been designed and the main
structure, parameters and functions established to collect already
existing data on selected ENM provided by manufactures involved
in the project, but in particular to store and evaluate the
physicochemical and biological data continuously produced (in
WP3) and fed into LCA (WP4) and RA (WP3), or used in the
exploration of new technical solution (WP5). Before entering the
material database, the newly generated data is first collected in
Material Data Sheets (MDS) that have been prepared for tested
materials and that are online available on the partner intranet, to
allow direct data input, use, treatment and validation by project
partners, but also to identify significant relationships between
material characteristics and biological effects. A comprehensive
inter-lab comparison campaign on validation of characterization,
measurement and testing, in cooperation with an external
reference laboratory, is in preparation and will be implemented in
the first half of 2012.
To keep all partners up to date with new research developments
and to consider new findings for the ongoing work, but also to
integrate the project outcome in a wider context, a scientific
database has been established based on a critical literature survey.
A regularly up-dated database is available on the project website
and equipped with particular search functions (for registered
users). Only publications that prove minimum requirements
regarding data quality and metrics of tested materials have been
considered. Most studies show that characterization of ENM is a
key criterion for the success of any subsequent toxicity testing and
critical for identifying any significant relationships between metrics
and effect endpoints, but also when comparing the toxicity of
different studies or when assessing possible risks. The survey also
confirmed that false conclusions may be drawn on the toxicity of
ENM with similar compositions but different metrics in the absence
of a qualified characterization.
Nanosustain is prepared to share data and expertise with other
relevant EU FP7 projects, such as NanoFate, NanoHouse,
NanoPolyTox and NEPHH, and with the Database Working Group 4
of the NSC, to develop common protocols and harmonize formats
to support the build-up of a central EU wide database on
nanomaterials risk assessment.
5.3 Work package 3 (WP3)
One main goal of WP3 is to provide not only pure nanoparticles,
but also life-cycle relevant test materials for hazard and exposure
characterization. For this reason, the following test materials have
been synthesized and treated for characterization and testing: (1)
glass sheets coated with and without ZnO nanoparticles, (2) three
different types of epoxy plates with and without CNTs, (3) two
different paints applied on boards with and without nanoTiO2, and
paper prepared with and without nanocellulose (see Table 1). Five
types of life cycle dusts have been also generated by sanding of
the produced epoxy-plates (CNTs) and painted boards (TiO2), and
distributed for measurement and testing.
Table 1: Test materials: Pure nanoparticles and sanding dusts from
products (with and without nanoparticles)
A first comprehensive characterization round of the obtained pure
nanoparticles has been finalized by using a variety of advanced
analytical methods, such as SEM, TEM, XRD, AFM, SNOM, Nano-
Raman, Micro-Raman, UV-VIS, SAXS, DLS, zeta-potential, FTIR and
BET. To validate the used methods and the quality of the produced
data (see WP2), a number of standards and benchmark materials is
going to be tested during the first half of 2012.
To assess the emission potential and risk for workers during
powder handling, data from simulated work activities (sanding)
and dustiness testing (miniaturized EN15051 test) are being
generated and evaluated. Characterization of the emission source
potential and the dustiness testing of pure nanomaterials is still
ongoing and first results are expected during the first half of 2012.
Also the feasibility to establish a standard for the miniaturized
EN15051 rotating dustiness drum is presently being investigated.
Work to evaluate the effect of weathering and abrasion on the
emission of selected ENM, and their release from glass sheets
coated with and without nano-ZnO and from painted boards with
and without nano-TiO2, is being performed by sanding before and
after exposure to weathering and abrasion, in close collaboration
with the EU FP7 NanoHouse project and Flügger Denmark. Tests
are still ongoing.
The first toxicological testing of pure ENM by exposing mice
through single intra-tracheal instillation has been completed and
analysis of the occurrence of inflammatory cells in lung and DNA
damage in BAL cells is still ongoing. Also RNA purification from
lung and liver tissue has been performed and RT-PCR of selected
192 Compendium of Projects in the European NanoSafety Cluster