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EPA Nanotechnology Research Program – LCA Considerations

Jeff MorrisNational Program Director for

Nanotechnology5 November 2009

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Which nanomaterials, in what forms, are most likely to result in environmental exposure?

What particular nanomaterial properties may raise hazard concerns?

Are nanomaterials with these properties likely to be present in environmental media or biological systems at concentrations of concern, and what does this mean for dose-response and risk?

If yes, how can we mitigate hazard and/or exposure?

Nanomaterials and Environmental Decision Making: Key Questions

33

Sources, Fate, Transport, and Exposure

Human Health and Ecological Effects

Risk Assessment Methods and Case Studies

Preventing and Mitigating Risks

2009 2014

*Darker shading indicates greater relative emphasis.

Near-Term Program Evolution

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Applications

ImplicationsUnderstanding Nanotechnology

EPAResearch

Risk assessment

Risk management

Sustainability

Stewardship

ToxicityDODEPAFDANIHNIOSHNSF

Fate, Transport, Transformation,

Release, Treatment

DODDOEEPANIHNIOSHNSF

Detection, Monitoring

DODEPANIHNIOSHNSFUSGS

Pollution Prevention

Green manufacturingGreen Engineering

Green Energy

EPADODDOE

RemediationEPADHSDODNASANSF

Sensors, DevicesDHSDODDOEEPANASANIHNIOSHNISTNSFUSDAUSGS

Characterization, Properties

DODDOEEPA NASANIHNISTNSF

Instrumentation, Metrology, Standards

DODDOENASANIHNISTNSF

Note: NIH includes NIEHS, NCI (NCL), NTP

Federal Sources to Inform EPA Nanotechnology Decisions

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Based on Comprehensive Environmental Assessment (Davis and Thomas, 2006)

Research to Inform a Life-Cycle Perspective

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EPA Nanomaterial Research Strategy: Theme 4 --Preventing and Mitigating Risks

Key Science Question: What manufactured nanomaterials have a high potential for release from a life-cycle perspective, and what decision-making methods and practices can be applied to minimize the risks of nanomaterials throughout their life cycle?

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Program Integration – Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) Example

Research to Investigate Potential Impacts

Chemists and material scientists detect & characterize materials.

Toxicologists identify properties associated with hazard concerns.

Exposure researchers describe environmental fate, transport & transformation.

Risk Assessors investigate methods to characterize potential impacts.

Modelers predict stressor & receptor activity across life cycle. Chemists and engineers devise management options.

Frame the question to focus on the goal: “Are humans or ecosystems likely to be exposed in the environment to MWCNT, and do MWCNT have unique properties that may result in harmful effects? If so, how can we avoid or mitigate potential risks from MWCNT?”

Overarching Goal is Minimizing Environmental Impacts

Risk Management Approaches

Property modifications

Process controls

Exposure mitigation

Waste management

Key considerations: Information continuously moves between disciplines. All disciplines look at nanomaterials from a life-cycle perspective.

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Determine the major processes that govern environmental fate, transport, and transformation of the 5 nanomaterial types.

Source-to-dose exposure models for the 5 nanomaterial types. Significant progress on approaches to screen, rank, and predict in vivo

toxicity. Identification of key physical-chemical characteristics to inform

development of predictive modeling. Comprehensive environmental assessments of selected nanomaterials,

based on progress in prerequisite areas of research. Green nanotechnology and other risk management approaches

for priority applications of the 5 nanomaterial types.

Anticipated EPA Research Products – 2014/2015