As reported by the Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA), the German Environment Agency (UBA) published a report on “Considerations about the relationship of nanomaterial’s physical-chemical properties and aquatic toxicity for the purpose of grouping” in November 2017, and another document entitled “Clarification of methodical questions regarding the investigation of nanomaterials in the environment” in December 2017.
In the scope of the first publication, UBA determined the physico-chemical properties of 14 nanomaterials and then formulated hypotheses about their expected ecotoxicity. The hypotheses were verified by performing selected ecotoxicological tests according to test guidelines of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). With this work, UBA “has identified relationships and limitations to support further regulatory grouping of nanomaterials,” NIA informed.
The results of the second publication were included in the OECD test guideline on “Dispersion stability of nanomaterials in simulated environmental media” which was published in October 2017 (FPF reported). The study identified the parameters ionic strength, pH, concentration of dissolved organic matter (DOM), particle (number) concentration, particle nature and surface chemistry, particle size, particle density, and presence/absence of CO2 in the atmosphere as “influential on the agglomeration behavior of particles,” NIA explained.
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NIA (November 29, 2017). “German EPA publishes report on nanomaterial phys-chem properties and aquatic toxicity for grouping.”
NIA (December 7, 2017). “German EPA report on the environmental fate of nanomaterials for OECD test guidelines.”
Chemical Watch (December 7, 2017). “UBA: grouping nanomaterials for ecotox ‘impossible’ with only one phys-chem property.”
