EDF Health

In Vitro Risk Assessment for a Nano Fuel Additive: Tanks or No Tanks?

By John Balbus / Published: May 9, 2008

John Balbus, M.D., M.P.H., is Chief Health Scientist.

The history of health and environmental impacts of fuel additives is not a pretty one.  From tetra-ethyl lead to methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), we’ve learned the hard way that what goes in the tank ends up in our bodies and the environment sooner or later.  Getting a thorough understanding of the potential risks of a new fuel additive at an early stage is essential to avoid a lot of harm, suffering, and economic costs down the line.

A new study by Park et al. has assessed the potential respiratory risks of a fuel additive called Envirox (nanoparticulate cerium oxide), giving it a clean bill of health based only on in vitro tests.  Is this the vision of the future of risk assessment?  Should we feel safe? Read More »

Posted in Emerging testing methods, Health science, Nanotechnology / Tagged , , | Comments are closed

Bacterial Resistance to Silver (Nano or Otherwise)

By / Published: April 29, 2008

Cal Baier-Anderson, Ph.D., is a Health Scientist.

A recent article posted on scienceline includes a claim that bacteria cannot develop resistance to silver, which is widely used as an antimicrobial.  That assertion is not only false, but also dangerous. Read More »

Posted in Emerging science, Health science, Nanotechnology / Tagged , | Read 4 Responses

EPA Nano Authority under TSCA, Part 1: It All Depends on What “New” Means

By / Published: April 22, 2008

Richard Denison, Ph.D., is a Senior Scientist.

[Links to posts in this series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5]

In this and my next two posts, I want to explore the question of whether EPA has sufficient authority under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to effectively oversee nanotechnology.  EPA (as well as the White House) maintains that the agency has ample statutory authority to do what’s needed to identify and address any potential risks nanomaterials may pose to consumers, the general public and the environment.  I beg to differ.  Read More »

Posted in Health policy, Nanotechnology, Regulation / Tagged , | Read 1 Response

Are Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes More Like Asbestos Than We Thought?

By John Balbus / Published: April 17, 2008

John Balbus, M.D., M.P.H., is Chief Health Scientist.

We and many others have made analogies between nanoparticles and asbestos.  The purpose of the analogy has generally been to emphasize the long latency that can occur between exposure to toxic materials and the development and subsequent recognition of disease arising from that exposure.  And, of course, the enormous legal and financial burden of failing to adequately consider risks before allowing widespread exposure.  But a new study suggests that the analogy may be even stronger than we thought:  It may extend to the capacity to cause mesothelioma, the rare form of cancer associated with exposure to asbestos. Read More »

Posted in Emerging science, Health science, Nanotechnology / Tagged , , | Read 3 Responses

My CNT is Better than Your CNT… Or At Least It’s Different

By / Published: April 7, 2008

Cal Baier-Anderson, Ph.D., is a Health Scientist.

After posting to this blog the other day, I came across a brand new study characterizing the heterogeneity of carbon nanotubes.  The authors of this study looked at 11 single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) from 10 different suppliers and found that SWCNT composition varies dramatically depending on synthesis method, feedstock, purification steps, and other factors.  Read More »

Posted in Health science, Nanotechnology / Tagged | Read 1 Response

The Power of Small: Nano Hits the Big Time

By / Published: April 3, 2008

Richard Denison, Ph.D., is a Senior Scientist.

Or at least the small screen.  Coming to your local PBS station this month is a three-part series on nanotechnology called The Power of Small.  The segments cover three facets of the much-needed social debate about nanotechnology:  privacy issues (e.g., nano-enabled tracking devices), ethical issues (focusing on the potential to greatly extend human life expectancy), and, of course, the environmental risks and applications. Read More »

Posted in Nanotechnology / Comments are closed