title: A system-of-systems approach as a broad and integrated paradigm for sustainable engineered nanomaterials.
abstract: There is an urgent need for a trans-disciplinary approach for the collective evaluation of engineered nanomaterial (ENM) benefits and risks. Currently, research studies are mostly focused on examining effects at individual endpoints with emphasis on ENM risk effects. Less research work is pursuing the integration needed to advance the science of sustainable ENMs. Therefore, the primary objective of this article is to discuss the system-of-systems (SoS) approach as a broad and integrated paradigm to examine ENM benefits and risks to society, environment, and economy (SEE) within a sustainability context. The aims are focused on: (a) current approaches in the scientific literature and the need for a broad and integrated approach, (b) documentation of ENM SoS in terms of architecture and governing rules and practices within sustainability context, and (c) implementation plan for the road ahead. In essence, the SoS architecture is a communication vehicle offering the opportunity to track benefits and risks in an integrated fashion so as to understand the implications and make decisions about advancing the science of sustainable ENMs. In support of the SoS architecture, we propose using an analytic-based decision support system consisting of a knowledge base and analytic engine along the benefit and risk informatics routes in the SEE system to build sound decisions on what constitutes sustainable and unsustainable ENMs in spite of the existing uncertainties and knowledge gaps. The work presented herein is neither a systematic review nor a critical appraisal of the scientific literature. Rather, it is a position paper that largely expresses the views of the authors based on their expert opinion drawn from industrial and academic experience.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH, USA. Electronic address: thabet.tolaymat@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Thabet
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tolaymat
authors.affiliation: Pegasus Technical Services Inc., Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA.
authors.forename: Amro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Badawy
authors.affiliation: University of Cincinnati, 2600 Clifton Ave., Cincinnati OH 45221, USA.
authors.forename: Reynold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sequeira
authors.affiliation: WorldTek Inc, 11884 Quarterhorse Ct, Cincinnati, OH 45249, USA.
authors.forename: Ash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Genaidy
keywords: Benefits and risks of engineered nanomaterials; Engineered nanomaterials; Sustainability; System-of-systems