Employing Nanosafety Standards in a Nanomaterial Research Environment: Lessons Learned and Refinement Potential

Abstract

Extensive research is currently being conducted on nanotechnologies worldwide, and the applications of nanomaterials are continuously expanding. Given their unique intrinsic characteristics, such as their small size and increased reactivity, nanomaterials may pose an occupational, environmental or consumer hazard. Therefore, a highly important aspect of ensuring the sustainable use of nanotechnologies is the establishment of proper health and safety practices. The area of nanosafety research has produced significant outcomes the last decades, and many of these achievements have been reflected in the standardization field. In this work, a discussion of prominent nanosafety standards (ISO/TS 12901-2:2014 and ISO/TR 12885:2018) is presented, based on the barriers faced during the endeavor to apply their principles within a research context. A critical viewpoint regarding their application is presented, and gaps faced in adapting the standards to the materials and processes applied are noted. Additionally, approaches that were followed to circumvent these gaps are also highlighted as suggestions to potentially overcome these barriers in future standardization efforts.