Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
table .
Case study using the nano Risk Framework: Carbon nanotubes []
Framework step
analysis
1...Describe.Material.and.
Application
DuPont.considered.incorporating.carbon.nanotubes.(CNTs).into.
engineering.thermoplastics.to.improve.mechanical.and.electrical.
properties.
2..Proile.Lifecycle(s)
Many.of.the.CNT.base.set.data.were.not.available..DuPont.purchased.
CNTs.from.outside.suppliers.in.the.form.of.powder.(containing.96-
100%.CNTs).or.encapsulated.in.polymer.pellets.(5-50.wt%.CNTs)..
Absent.clear.environmental.health.and.safety.data,.established.
exposure.limits.for.CNTs,.or.toxicity.data.for.the.speciic.CNTs.used,.
DuPont.assumed.CNTs.were.potentially.hazardous..Air.sample.
monitoring.occurred.during.CNT.handling.and.demonstrated.the.
effectiveness.of.engineering.controls.
Because.this.was.a.research.and.development.(R&D).project,.the.
exposure.analysis.focused.on.workers.rather.than.downstream.users;.
such.exposures.would.be.considered.if.the.products.were.to.enter.later.
stages.of.development.
3..Evaluate.Risks
The.evaluation.did.not.include.a.systematic.evaluation.of.risk.because.of.
the.development.stage.
4...Assess.Risk.
Management
During.R&D,.DuPont.chose.to.handle.CNTs.as.hazardous.material..Risk.
mitigation.measures.would.be.reined.if.nanocomposite.products.
moved.to.full.production.
5...Decide,.Document,.and.
Act
During.R&D,.personnel.handled.small.quantities.of.CNTs.in.ways.that.
minimized.exposure,.utilizing.engineering.controls,.personal.protective.
equipment,.and.special.operating.procedures..Air.monitoring.
demonstrated.the.effectiveness.of.these.measures.
6..Review.and.Adapt
The.use.of.CNTs.was.under.continuous.review.during.the.R&D.process.
Summary.of.Outcome
Research.project.halted.before.commercialization.for.business.reasons.
.
suMMaRY and ConClusions
Development. of. alternative. materials. and. new. catalysts. based. on. nanotechnology.
offers.many.potential.beneits.to.human.health.and.the.environment..New.technolo-
gies.may.save.energy,.use.raw.materials.more.eficiently,.produce.less.waste,.detect.
and.treat.environmental.pollutants,.and.offer.radically.effective.approaches.to.diag-
nosing.and.treating.disease.
As.with.any.new.technological.development,.these.beneits.may.come.at.some.
cost..Chapter.1.described.the.unintended.consequences.of.some.past.technological.
advancements.. LCA. offers. one. tool. to. anticipate. and. avoid. —. or. at. least. control.
—.the.adverse.effects.of.developing.nanotechnologies,.particularly.while.regulators.
are.wrestling.with.how.to.apply.environmental,.worker.safety,.and.consumer.protec-
tion.regulations.to.nanotechnologies.
Research.into.potential.risks.is.beginning.to.produce.results..
In vitro
.tests.of.cer-
tain.nanomaterials.have.shown.effects.on.mammalian.cell.lines,.and.some.laboratory.
bioassays.have.demonstrated.toxic.effects..The.most.crucial.hazards.may.result.from.
