On December 11, 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a research collaboration intended to assess potential impacts of nanomaterials on people’s health and the environment. According to EPA’s press release, the research is part of a “larger international effort” that includes:
- Identifying, characterizing and quantifying the origins of nanomaterials;
- Studying biological processes affected by nanomaterials that could influence risk;
- Determining how nanomaterials interact with complex systems in the human body and the environment;
- Involving industry to develop sustainable manufacturing processes; and
- Sharing knowledge through innovative online applications that allow for rapid feedback and accelerated research progress.
The press release states that CPSC will use the results of the research to inform:
- Protocol development to assess the potential release of nanomaterials from consumer products;
- Credible rules for consumer product testing to evaluate exposure; and
- Determination of the potential public health impacts of nanomaterial used in consumer products.