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

oth projects are managed by the same coordinator (Rudolf
Reuther NOMI). A half-day common meeting is planned between
these two EU FP7 projects in the afternoon of 9 May 2012, to share
experiences, exchange data and expertise, and discuss possible
ways to cooperate.
6 Expected impact
The project aims to compare and validate current test methods,
and if necessary modify and adapt these methods, and/or develop
new methods for reliable measurement and testing to improve
exposure and risk assessment as well as life cycle analysis of
nanoscale materials, with the ultimate goal of establishing
reference methods and materials. To achieve these objectives, the
project will implement a comprehensive inter-laboratory, intercomparison
and intercalibration campaign between all
participating laboratories and a set of case studies to assess the
feasibility of the established methods. It is a first step in the
generation of reliable quantitative data on the toxicology and ecotoxicology
of nanomaterials and the development of accurate
methods required to generate the data. The validated methods
and new knowledge developed will trigger a step change in the
early scientific assessment of potential health, safety and
environmental risks associated with nanotechnology-based
materials and associated products. It will help to meet existing
regulatory requirements and/or develop new legal requirements
for safe, responsible and sustainable development.
As a major outcome, the project will provide a set of reliable (prestandardization)
protocols and reference methods that are
applicable to a wide range of NPs for early hazard identification,
risk assessment and the design of sustainable solutions for safe
production, use and disposal of ENMs. NanoValid will generate a
comprehensive knowledge and database on the intrinsic
properties of particular ENMs and associated ENPs and will
contribute to a better mechanistic understanding of their
behaviour in various test media, physiological solutions and
environmental matrices. The generation of scientifically sound and
well-defined reference tools will support standardization efforts to
characterize ENPs and their potential effects and hence improve
current test schemes for risk management, reduction and
monitoring. Providing reliable methods for RA and LCA of ENPs,
including new in vitro cell panels and other models to assess their
bioaccumulation, persistence and bioavailability will help to
identify problematic materials early on, which in turn will stimulate
the development of safe production processes, novel properties
and innovative sustainable products („green nanotechnology“).
The proposed toxicological work will address critical issues, such as
the validation of current standardized in vitro tests, the follow up
of biodistribution, persistence and bioaccumulation of NPs, tracing
of NP excretion or immune effects as well as possible genotoxicity
and effects on sensory organs or neural tissue. Results from NP
testing will contribute to new conceptual and experimental
standards for toxicity testing by in vitro test systems, which in turn
helps to reduce animal testing.
New knowledge on the toxicity of ENMs to particle-ingesting
organisms and to those not internalizing NPs, and on mechanisms
that control particle solubility and bioavailability, will help to
improve the applicability of current RA and LCA systems to NPs.
The detection and evaluation of a wide range of different ENMs
NanoSafetyCluster - Compendium 2012
under various laboratory and field conditions by various
measurement and testing methods will enhance and extend our
current understanding of the true nature of the solution,
dispersion and agglomeration/aggregation behaviour, persistence
and fate of ENMs. NanoValid will develop standardized procedures
for labelling and dispersing nanoparticles prior to toxicological
testing, which will allow accurate tracing and the conversion of
test materials that have been developed and fabricated into
standardized stable nanoparticle suspensions.
The development of reference methods and materials will support
pre and co-normative activities, such as those required for the
implementation of REACH and other relevant EU legislation. It will
assist current policy and future decision making, to meet
increasing regulative requirements in nanotechnology and the
need of relevant stakeholders, such as public authorities, industry,
researchers and citizens. Finally, a more reliable measurement,
characterization and toxicological assessment of ENMs will
support good governance in research and industry and contribute
to the future definition of appropriate measures and guidelines in
line with the precautionary principle.
7 Dissemination and exploitation strategy
The NanoValid work programme has the aim of developing a
number of new collecting, characterizing, and testing
methodologies. A number of these have clear commercialization
opportunities. Through the participation of industrial partners and
partners that have an established background in the
commercialization of new devices, it is expected that project
results will lead to:
standardized test materials that can be used by different
industries to validate the physicochemical properties of ENMs
they manufacture or purchase;
novel ENP samplers, e.g. for hot gases;
novel real-time collection and assessment devices which
collect airborne ENPs and assay them on an integrated
biomodule, thus addressing issues of bioactivity and
transport, and ensuing loss or change of reactivity and
physical properties;
a multi-compartment cell barrier model to mimic physiological
systems and provide a more realistic evaluation of ENP fate
and effect in living organisms;
novel environmental models to determine the fate and effect
of ENMs to post consumer, that can be employed by different
manufacturers to comply with new regulations.
NanoValid is presently establishing (January 2012) a dedicated
project website (www.nanovalid.eu) and database, through which
project results will be available, and the wider community can be
engaged (through feedback and discussion fora). In addition, it will
target stakeholders through newsletters and press-releases, and
actively engage with individuals through a series of physical and
online events. To ensure all relevant stakeholders are reached, the
consortium will leverage its own substantial networks and
individual membership of international committees and
associations. This takes advantage of the range represented in the
consortium: academic organizations, industrial SMEs and large-
Compendium of Projects in the European NanoSafety Cluster 211