A perspective on the use of nanomaterial categorization for risk assessment and regulatory decision-making

Published

March 19, 2015

Author(s)

Hilary Godwin, Catherine Nameth, David Avery, Lynn Bergeson, Elizabeth Beryt, Wlliam Boyd, Amy Clippinger, Christine Hendren, Patricia Holden, Keith Houck, Agnes Kane, Frederick Klaessig, Tong Kooi Lee, Iseult Lynch, Timothy Malloy, Mary Miller, Gunter Oberdorster, Elijah Petersen, Vicki Stone, Andre Nel

Abstract

For nanotechnology to meet its potential as a revolutionary and sustainable technology, it is necessary that engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and nano-enabled products that are safe and effective make it to the marketplace. This process is frequently hampered by the time and costs associated with obtaining regulatory approval, one product at a time. Tools and methods are needed that would allow regulators to rapidly categorize ENMs according to their risk potential, so that those material categories that pose the least risk to human health and the environment can be fast-tracked for approval, while those materials of higher concern may be subject to further testing. Here, we discuss essential characteristics of successful strategies for the categorization of ENMs for regulatory purposes and discuss how alternative testing strategies (ATS) and a decision-tree approach could be used to facilitate regulatory decision-making about ENMs, using carbon nanotubes as an example.

Citation

ACS Nano

Pub Type

Journals

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Citation

Godwin, H. , Nameth, C. , Avery, D. , Bergeson, L. , Beryt, E. , Boyd, W. , Clippinger, A. , Hendren, C. , Holden, P. , Houck, K. , Kane, A. , Klaessig, F. , Lee, T. , Lynch, I. , Malloy, T. , Miller, M. , Oberdorster, G. , Petersen, E. , Stone, V. and Nel, A. (2015), A perspective on the use of nanomaterial categorization for risk assessment and regulatory decision-making, ACS Nano, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=917173 (Accessed October 20, 2025)