Several different types of nanomaterials have been utilized as pigments since time immemorial. For instance, in ancient Egypt, the soot from oil lamps was used to make black pigments of high opacity and stability. These were ideal as black ink for writing on papyrus scrolls. These soot particles or pigments, as we would call them…
Previously, we informed about the NANOMET workshop on the OECD Guidance Document (GD) 317 dealing with the aquatic and sediment toxicity testing of nanomaterials. By the end of last week another NANOMET online seminar took place. There, the scope, content and practical use of the testing guideline (TG) 318 was discussed. It particularly focused on…
Last week we informed about the existing variety of definitions for nanomaterials (NM) among the different EU-regulations. As previously indicated these differences do also have a direct impact on the data to be evaluated under the respective regulation. Together with a selection of NM definitions, this information was previously published by the VdMi. Today, we…
In our many previous blog entries, we have talked about nanomaterial regulation within the EU. In general, nanomaterials and nanoforms are covered within the same meticulous regulatory framework, i.e. the REACH and CLP regulations. After decades of discussions between the EU member states, the European Commission, scientists and other stakeholders, new revisions to the existing…
Within the EU regulatory framework there are quite a number of different definitions for the term “nanomaterial”. Each of them strongly depends on the field of material application and the respective regulatory legislation. The Verband der Mineralfarbenindustrie e.V. (VdMi) recently published a document comparing a compilation of relevant nanomaterial definitions in the EU. As part…
In a crude sense of matters, nanotechnology is all about an extremely small dimension, one billionth of a meter, to be precise. At the nanoscale, the rules of the game are not the same as those we have been playing till now with respect to conventional chemicals and substances. On the one hand, nanotechnology has…
In 2020, the OECD released a new set of guidelines for the assessment of fate and ecotoxicity of nanomaterial, one of which is the guidance document (GD) No. 317. It deals with aquatic and sediment ecotoxicity testing of nanomaterials (NM). The document provides instructions on conduction of the ecotoxicity assessment as well as guidance for…
It is popularly believed that the nano industry has entered the mass market and has undergone “consumerization” within the EU. This means that nanotechnology can no longer be considered part of a highly localized niche market, but has evolved from laboratories into being manufactured commercially, and has finally reached the consumers. Don’t believe me? Check…
