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Companies involved in nanotechnology must be aware of nanotechnology’s environmental and health and safety risks and liabilities. US and international “cradle to grave” environmental regulation of nanomaterials are currently under development, and OSHA’s General Duty Clause requires employers to be proactive in addressing possible hazards presented by nanomaterials in the workplace.
With its extensive background in environmental health and safety, toxicology and risk assessment, and the technical expertise to analyze the health and environmental risks of nanomaterial exposure, ENSR can provide innovative, cost-effective solutions to clients working in the nanotechnology arena.
Whether your company is integrating nanotechnology into your existing products, or creating new products from nanomaterials, ENSR’s team of experts of can deliver:
- Worker and product liability assessments
- Evaluation and specification of nanomaterial worker-safety procedures
- Human and ecological risk assessment for nanomaterial exposures
- Ecological toxicity testing for environmental impacts at ENSR’s state-of–the-art laboratory
- Worker training programs for nanomaterials to comply with the OSHA Hazardous Communication Standard
- Life cycle analysis (LCA) for nanomaterials
- Evaluation of environmental fate and transport for nanomaterials
- Risk communication for nanotechnology and for nanomaterial exposure concerns
- Monitoring for regulatory changes concerning nanomaterials
ENSR is actively working with clients and universities to develop nanomaterial-based technologies for soil and groundwater remediation. In addition, ENSR’s Process Engineering Group has extensive experience in developing innovative treatment technologies for industry, including treatment of nano-sized particles, and can provide assistance in the design for upscale for commercialization of nano production processes. ENSR’s sister company, Metcalf & Eddy, is also researching nanomaterials for water and waste stream treatment and can assist clients in evaluating and developing nanomaterials for treatment technologies.
ENSR is also investigating the aquatic toxicity of nano iron. Zero-valent iron particles at the nano-scale level (nZVI) have recently been developed for treating contaminants in groundwater, soil, and sediments. The unique surface, catalytic, and magnetic properties of nZVI - compared to its larger ZVI counterparts - suggest great promise for this remediation treatment. However, current data concerning the potential effects and environmental fate of nZVI vary in both quality and completeness.
ENSR’s state-of-the-art environmental toxicology laboratory in Fort Collins, Colorado is conducting tests with nZVI to better understand the potential impact of nZVI released into the environment, and to identify the potential benefits and risks of this new technology in its myriad potential environmental applications. Several standard assays, including Aquatic Invertebrate Acute, Fish Acute, and Algal Growth Toxicity Tests, have been selected for this study. |
