Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
processes,.and.possible.uses..The.overview.includes.existing.materials.that.
the.nanomaterial.may.replace,.and.bulk.counterparts.of.the.nanomaterial.
Step 2: Proile Life Cycle(s).
.This.step.includes.three.components..Each.relies.
on.compiled.“base.set”.data.to.deine.the.characteristics.and.hazards.of.a.
nanomaterial..Where.those.data.are.not.available,.the.Framework.suggests.
using. reasonable. worst-case. default. values. or. assumptions.. Analysts. can.
replace.those.default.values.with.actual.data.as.they.become.available..This.
approach.will.provide.an.initially.conservative.estimate.of.risk.that.can.be.
reined.if.appropriate.
.
a..
Proile Life Cycle Properties.
. Develop. base. set. data. on. physical. and.
chemical. properties. of. the. nanomaterial,. including. property. changes.
throughout.the.full.product.life.cycle..(See.Section.2.3.2.)
.
b..
Proile Life Cycle Hazards.
. Characterize. the. potential. hazards. to.
human.health,.the.environment,.and.safety.from.exposure.to.this.mate-
rial.throughout.its.life.cycle..In.this.step,.analysts.compile.four.base.sets.
of.data:.health.hazards,.environmental.hazards,.environmental.fate,.and.
safety..Standard.methods.are.not.yet.available.to.measure.some.of.these.
base.set.parameters.for.nanomaterials..Base.set.data.on.health.hazards.
include. short-term. toxicity,. skin. sensitization/irritation,. skin. penetra-
tion,.genetic.toxicity.tests,.and.other.data..Base.set.environmental.haz-
ard.data.include.acute.aquatic.toxicology.and.terrestrial.toxicology.(i.e.,.
earthworms. and. plants),. and. may. include. additional. data. if. needed..
Recommended.base.set.data.on.the.environmental.fate.of.nanomateri-
als. include. physical-chemical. properties,. adsorption-desorption. coef-
icients.(soil.or.sludge),.and.nanomaterial.aggregation.or.disaggregation.
in.applicable.exposure.media..They.also.include.data.pertaining.to.per-
sistence,.characterizing.biodegradability,.photodegradability,.hydroly-
sis,. and. bioaccumulation.. Finally,. base. set. safety. hazard. data. include.
lammability,.explosivity,.incompatibility,.reactivity,.and.corrosivity.
.
c..
Proile Life Cycle Exposure.
Quantify.the.potential.for.human.and.environ-
mental.exposures.throughout.the.product.life.cycle..This.deinition.is.decep-
tively.simple..The.analyst.must.consider.opportunities.for.direct.contact.or.
release.to.the.environment.at.multiple.stages:.manufacture,.processing,.use,.
distribution/storage,.and.post-use.disposal,.reuse,.or.recycling.
Step 3: Evaluate Risks.
.The.information.collected.in.Step.1.and.Step.2.is.com-
bined.to.estimate.the.risks.to.human.health.and.the.environment.for.each.
life.cycle.stage..Depending.on.the.availability.of.base.set.data,.the.initial.
estimates. may. range. from. qualitative. to. quantitative.. The. analyst. must.
determine.gaps.in.the.life.cycle.proiles.and.either.generate.data.to.ill.the.
gaps.or.make.reasonable.worst-case.assumptions.
Step 4: Assess Risk Management.
. For. each. life. cycle. stage,. determine. the.
actions. needed. to. reduce. and. control. risks. from. known. and. reasonably.
anticipated. activities.. These. actions. could. include. product. modiica-
tions,. engineering. or. management. controls,. protective. equipment,. or. risk.
communication.such.as.warning.labels..The.product.developer.might.even.
decide.to.abandon.the.product.
