Towards a definition of inorganic nanoparticles from an environmental, health and safety perspective.
The regulation of engineered nanoparticles requires a widely agreed definition of such particles. Nanoparticles are routinely defined as particles with sizes between about 1 and 100 nm that show properties that are not found in bulk samples of the same material. Here we argue that evidence for novel size-dependent properties alone, rather than particle size, should be the primary criterion in any definition of nanoparticles when making decisions about their regulation for environmental, health and safety reasons. We review the size-dependent properties of a variety of inorganic nanoparticles and find that particles larger than about 30 nm do not in general show properties that would require regulatory scrutiny beyond that required for their bulk counterparts.
Auffan
Mélanie
M
Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology CEINT, Duke University, 121 Hudson Hall, Durham, North Carolina 27707, USA.
Rose
Jérôme
J
Bottero
Jean-Yves
JY
Lowry
Gregory V
GV
Jolivet
Jean-Pierre
JP
Wiesner
Mark R
MR
D000818:Animals; D002384:Catalysis; D004777:Environment; D006262:Health; D007287:Inorganic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D012449:Safety
D007287:Inorganic Chemicals