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Nanomaterials are integrated within consumer products to enhance specific properties of interest. Their release throughout the lifecycle of nano-enabled products raises concerns; specifically, mechanical strains can lead to the generation of fragmented materials containing nanomaterials. We investigated the potential release of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs—brand TUBALL™) from epoxy composite materials. A pin-on-disk-type tribometer was used for the accelerated mechanical aging of the nanocomposites. A pristine nanocomposite material, abraded material and debris obtained from the abrasion in the tribometer were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy. The airborne-produced particles were captured using particle collectors. Stat Peel's Identifier C2 system was used to monitor the SWCNT content of respirable particles produced during the abrasion test. The SWCNT amounts found were below the LoQ. The Raman spectra conducted on the Stat Peel filters helped identify the presence of free SWCNTs released from the epoxy matrix, although they were notably scarce. Raman spectroscopy has been proved to be a crucial technique for the identification, characterization and assessment of structural changes and degradation in SWCNTs that occurred during the abrasion experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last two years of State aid policy and enforcement have been marked by two unprecedented back-to-back crises, namely the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The Commission acted swiftly to mitigate their effects, by establishing specific sets of rules setting out the criteria for its assessment of national support measures. That enabled Member States to rely on the flexibility of State aid rules to weather those crises. On that basis, the Commission developed a rich and prolific decisional practice. During this period, the Commission also accelerated the review of several State aid guidelines as well as of the General Block Exemption Regulation, with a view to ensuring that those instruments are fit-for-purpose and aligned with its Green Deal and Digital Strategy objectives. That alignment is also evidenced in several Commission decisions. This article also discusses the main judicial developments in 2021-2022, notably on COVID-19-related measures in the area of aviation, on State aid and taxation and on a number of procedural and substantive issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]