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Research needs assessment regarding environmental health and safety (EHS) of nanoparticles is problematic. Generating benchmark data to assess research and policy initiatives seems daunting. This study's findings present more granular and qualitative assessments of expert preferences and concerns. This three-round Delphi study elicits expert estimations of problematic nanoparticle characteristics and classifications from a sample of nanoscience experts in chemistry, EHS policy, engineering, environmental toxicology, and human toxicology (n = 18). The Delphi method is a forecasting tool designed for expert evaluation of events under high degrees of uncertainty. Results demonstrate high concordance indicating favorable consensus among the sample concerning characteristics and classifications of nanoparticles that are potentially or actually problematic to EHS. These findings establish a benchmark for future investigations of expert preferences and concerns.

An international symposium for nanosafety was held recently at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Topics relating to understanding nanomaterial properties, tools, and infrastructure required for predicting hazardous outcomes, measuring nanomaterial exposure levels, systems approach for risk assessment and public's perception of nanotechnology were covered. The need for a multidisciplinary approach, across both natural and social sciences, for developing sustainable nanotechnology solutions was heavily emphasized. This commentary highlights the major issues discussed and the commitment of the nanosafety research community in Singapore to contribute collectively to realise the vision of sustainable nanotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) product database began in 2005. The PEN Consumer Products Inventory (CPI) has been frequently cited in scholarly and popular articles as well as reports from government and industry. The CPI has been used to establish a baseline or benchmark on the pervasiveness of products produced by nanotechnology and/or incorporating nanoparticles. In this article, a team of researchers examine and validate a sample from the CPI involving four prominent categories of nanoparticles (carbon, gold, silver, and iron). The authors conclude that the CPI has substantive deficiencies that call the validity of claims associated with the CPI into question. Individuals and organizations citing the CPI should be wary of over-claiming the reliability and validity of the presence of nanotechnology in consumer products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]