OTA Technology Guidance Document: Nanotechnology — Considerations for Safe Development
The Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) is responsible for helping entities in the state achieve superior environmental, health and safety performance while also improving economic sustainability. Nanotechnology is a very promising set of industries. It creates a wide range of opportunity for innovation in areas such as biomedical devices, improved electronic devices, clean energy technology, and materials engineering. There is vast potential for environmental improvement, along with the economic benefits of new products of higher quality and greater variety. At the same time, there are indications of potential harm from certain exposures and releases of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), and it is essential to recognize, reduce and control these risks when they are present. An effective program for reducing or eliminating potential risks would be premised on adequate recognition of where those risks might arise, and a continuous effort to apply preventive strategies
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Nanomaterials in the Construction Industry: A Review of Their Applications and Environmental Health and Safety Considerations
By: Jaesang Lee, Shaily Mahendra, and Pedro J. J. Alvarez
The extraordinary chemical and physical properties of materials at the nanometer scale enable novel applications ranging from structural strength enhancement and energy conservation to antimicrobial properties and self-cleaning surfaces. Consequently, manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) and nanocomposites are being considered for various uses in the construction and related infrastructure industries. To achieve environmentally responsible nanotechnology in construction, it is important to consider the lifecycle impacts of MNMs on the health of construction workers and dwellers, as well as unintended environmental effects at all stages of manufacturing, construction, use, demolition, and disposal. Here, we review state-of-the-art applications of MNMs that improve conventional construction materials, suggest likely environmental release scenarios, and summarize potential adverse biological and toxicological effects and their mitigation. Aligned with multidisciplinary assessment of the environmental implications of emerging technologies, this review seeks to promote awareness of potential benefits of MNMs in construction and stimulate the development of guidelines to regulate their use and disposal to mitigate potential adverse effects on human and environmental health.
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