475
primary Considerations
The scientific community has spent considerable energy on endeavoring to understand the many factors that impact the health risks
involved with the effects of the manufacturing and use of new materials as well as those that have been with us for a long time. Ultimately, health consequences can only result from various forms,
compositions, and concentrations of materials that have toxicologically adverse effects finding their way into human bodies. As
discussed in more detail shortly, most current evidence for adverse
effects comes from studies of ultrafine particles that have long been
present.
The next question is whether there are indeed adverse consequences
associated specifically with newly engineered nanomaterials, and, if
there are, of what pathology? The research community is already
focusing on the need to treat this question in specific terms. Hence
an important set of research considerations hinges around the exact
type of nanomaterial that could be associated with an exposure,
including material composition, form (e.g., carbon nanotubes,
fullerenes, quantum dots), and size and shape distributions, and
whether there are or are not adverse consequences associated with
each, and, if so, under what precise circumstances (e.g., concentrations, means by which they enter the body). Most studies to date
have focused on nanoparticles, with heavy reliance on insights
gained from the study of existing ultrafine particles already found
in the environment, and only limited attention has been paid to
other forms.
Actual risk levels to human populations, however, are also dependent on types and actual exposure levels to any materials identified
as having adverse toxicological effects, the pathways by which the
particles find their way into bloodstreams, and other factors. Here
one set of considerations hinges around effects as they might relate
to the means by which humans are exposed to nanomaterials. If
there are no exposures, there is no risk; but exposures can potentially occur in the workplace, through the use of products containing nanomaterials, and by other means. Where or how an exposure
can occur (including proximity) is a particularly significant factor,
since the exposure setting would in turn affect exposure types,
intensities, and the forms of nanomaterials likely to be encountered. Many of these exposure types, in turn, depend on how toxicologically adverse materials might find their way into larger life
and work environments (more on this in a moment). After exposure, primary paths of nanomaterials into the body include direct
Health Concerns
primary Considerations
The scientific community has spent considerable energy on endeavoring to understand the many factors that impact the health risks
involved with the effects of the manufacturing and use of new materials as well as those that have been with us for a long time. Ultimately, health consequences can only result from various forms,
compositions, and concentrations of materials that have toxicologically adverse effects finding their way into human bodies. As
discussed in more detail shortly, most current evidence for adverse
effects comes from studies of ultrafine particles that have long been
present.
The next question is whether there are indeed adverse consequences
associated specifically with newly engineered nanomaterials, and, if
there are, of what pathology? The research community is already
focusing on the need to treat this question in specific terms. Hence
an important set of research considerations hinges around the exact
type of nanomaterial that could be associated with an exposure,
including material composition, form (e.g., carbon nanotubes,
fullerenes, quantum dots), and size and shape distributions, and
whether there are or are not adverse consequences associated with
each, and, if so, under what precise circumstances (e.g., concentrations, means by which they enter the body). Most studies to date
have focused on nanoparticles, with heavy reliance on insights
gained from the study of existing ultrafine particles already found
in the environment, and only limited attention has been paid to
other forms.
Actual risk levels to human populations, however, are also dependent on types and actual exposure levels to any materials identified
as having adverse toxicological effects, the pathways by which the
particles find their way into bloodstreams, and other factors. Here
one set of considerations hinges around effects as they might relate
to the means by which humans are exposed to nanomaterials. If
there are no exposures, there is no risk; but exposures can potentially occur in the workplace, through the use of products containing nanomaterials, and by other means. Where or how an exposure
can occur (including proximity) is a particularly significant factor,
since the exposure setting would in turn affect exposure types,
intensities, and the forms of nanomaterials likely to be encountered. Many of these exposure types, in turn, depend on how toxicologically adverse materials might find their way into larger life
and work environments (more on this in a moment). After exposure, primary paths of nanomaterials into the body include direct
Health Concerns