Nanotechnology Research
Types of Nanomaterials Under Investigation by the EPA
Nanomaterials are being used in more than 500 consumer products or items and the number is expected to grow. By 2015, it is estimated that consumer products with nanotechnology applications will value $1 trillion on the world market.
An example of nanotechnology's rapid growth is in the toiletries and cosmetics sector. There are more than 100 products ranging from sunscreens to anti-aging creams to shampoos and toothpastes containing nanomaterials. Also, internationally there are now on the market several hundred food coloring, flavor and packaging products that contain nanomaterials.
EPA has identified five nanomaterial types for investigation that are widely used in products or have been recognized for their potential to be used. As a result, they may be more likely to be present in the environment. The materials selected were based on analyses by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and EPA.
The materials being studied are:
- Carbon tubes and fullerenes. Carbon materials have a wide range of uses, ranging from composites for use in vehicles and sports equipment, to integrated circuits for electronic components.
- Cerium oxide. Nano cerium is being investigated for uses ranging from drug delivery to automobile catalytic converters. One use currently on the market in some countries is as a diesel fuel additive to reduce exhaust particulates and increase fuel mileage.
- Titanium dioxide. Nano titanium dioxide is currently used in many products. Depending on the type of particle, it may be found in sunscreens, cosmetics, and paints and coatings. It is also being investigated for use in removing contaminants from drinking water.
- Silver. Silver has long been known for its antimicrobial properties. Nano silver is being incorporated into textiles and other materials to eliminate bacteria and odor from clothing, food packaging, and other items where antimicrobial properties are desirable.
- Iron. While nano-scale iron is being investigated for many uses, including “smart fluids” for uses such as optics polishing and as a better-absorbed iron nutrient supplement, one of its more prominent current uses is to remove contamination from groundwater. This use, supported by EPA research, is being piloted at a number of sites across the country.
EPA research will determine whether these materials present a potential environmental hazard or exposure over their life cycles, and how these materials, when used in products, may be modified or managed to avoid or mitigate potential human health or ecological impacts.