Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Aug 31:10:2623-2633.
doi: 10.1039/d3en00062a.

U. S. federal perspective on critical research issues in nanoEHS

Janet Carter  1 , Rhema Bjorkland  2 , William K Boyes  3 , Charles Geraci  4 , Vincent A Hackley  5 , John Howard  4 , Alan Kennedy  6 , Igor Linkov  6 , Joanna Matheson  7 , Holly Mortensen  3 , Custodio Muianga  8 , Elijah J Petersen  5 , Nora Savage  9 , Paul Schulte  4 , Stacey Standridge  10 , Treye Thomas  7 , Benjamin Trump  6 , Sri Nadadur  11
Affiliations

U. S. federal perspective on critical research issues in nanoEHS

Janet Carter et al. Environ Sci Nano. .

Abstract

This article discusses critical issues and opportunities going forward in nanotechnology environmental, health, and safety (nanoEHS) research from the perspective of Federal Government Agency participants in the United States (U.S.) National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) interagency Nanotechnology Environmental and Health Implications Working Group (NEHI). NEHI is responsible for coordination of Federal Science Agency nanoEHS research. As participants in NEHI, we examine these critical issues from an integrated, transdisciplinary perspective, noting examples of impactful research efforts that are advancing knowledge in these areas. Major themes identified include detection, measurement, and characterization of real-world nanomaterial exposures, understanding the biological transformation of nanomaterials and their potential (eco) toxicological implications, understanding the landscape of nanotechnology-enabled products in commerce, and advancing the EHS knowledge infrastructure related to nanomaterials and nanotechnology. Significant investments in nanoEHS research over two decades have led to establishment of a unique and diverse multidisciplinary, multisector community of practice. These investments must be leveraged and adapted not only to future nanotechnology, but also to use as a model for accelerating acquisition of safe and reliable risk information for tomorrow's emerging technologies for a more sustainable and competitive world.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts to declare.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Overview of U.S. federal perspective for addressing critical issues in nanoEHS research.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. National Science and Technology Council and Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology Subcommittee, National Nanotechnology Initiative 2021 Strategic Plan, 2021.
    1. Friedersdorf LE, Bjorkland R, Klaper RD, Sayes CM and Wiesner MR, Fifteen years of nanoEHS research advances science and fosters a vibrant community, Nat. Nanotechnol, 2019, 14, 996–998. - PubMed
    1. National Science and Technology Council and N. Science, Engineering, and Technology Subcommittee, NNI Environmental, Health, and Safety Research Strategy, 2011.
    1. NNI, What we know about NanoEHS: NNI 2021–2022 Public Webinar Series [Internet], 2022, Available from: https://www.nano.gov/nanoEHSwebinars.
    1. National Nanotechnology Initiative, A look back at the NNI’s interagency nanoEHS research collaboration [Internet], Available from: https://www.nano.gov/interagencynanoEHSresearchcollaboration.

LinkOut - more resources