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New study assesses graphene’s potential impact on health and environment
The European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) has published a study that has systematically reviewed and critically assessed the potential health and environmental effects of graphene, graphene oxide, and other two-dimensional (2D) materials, based on existing public information of the last ten years.
Helsinki, 7 December 2022 – Due to their unique properties, graphene and its derivatives have shown their usefulness in many commercial applications, including electronics, biomedical engineering, filtration, lightweight/composite materials, photovoltaics, and energy storage. Graphene also inspires novel nanoscience and nanotechnology applications of emerging 2D materials, opening more opportunities to develop new products.
Graphene’s rising popularity and broad application potential raises the need for more efforts in researching its safety aspects. The current study identified potential risks in specific scenarios, for example for surface water and soil located near point sources (such as production sites).
The study concludes that cytotoxic effects have been identified for specific graphene and 2D materials both on health and environment. The study report recommends that when health and environmental risks are reported or identified for a specific graphene or 2D material, doses and exposure scenarios should be considered for their manipulation and use.
According to the report, the toxicity and ecotoxicity of graphene-based materials deserve more research efforts using OECD test guidelines and ISO documentary standards. When reporting the results of these tests, a precise description of the material used in the tests is required to enable more specific conclusions on toxicity and ecotoxicity, which currently cannot be generalised.
Background
The study “Assessment of the potential impact of graphene, graphene oxide and other 2D materials on health, and the environment” was commissioned by the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON), which is hosted and maintained by ECHA. EUON provides information about existing nanomaterials on the EU market and runs studies on relevant topics to address important knowledge gaps. EUON is funded by the European Commission.
The study was conducted by Innovamol Consulting Srl, Modena (Italy).