European Observatory for Nanomaterials

We have updated images and aligned the look and feel across all pages on the website.

Additionally, the cosmetics infographic is now available in all 23 official EU languages.

Click here to read more!

EUON is proud to announce that the chapter “Nanoregisters in Europe” from the recently published book “Particle Technology and Textiles: Review of Applications” has just been made available to the public. 

The chapter introduces the creation of national nano inventories, with a focus on the French, Belgian, and Danish nano registers. It also covers the Cosmetic Products Notification Portal and EUON in separate sub-chapters.

EUON, which is funded by the European Commission and hosted by ECHA, has financed the chapter’s availability for everyone free of charge. 

The chapter can also be accessed via the EUON page National reporting schemes which has seen some updates in all 23 EU official languages.

How can host-associated microbiota affect the toxicity of nanoparticles? In this guest column, Dr Bregje Brinkmann discusses the direct interactions between microbiota, the host, and nanoparticles. Additionally, she elaborates on the latest research conducted on this subject. 

In our latest guest column, Dr Bentejui Medina-Clavijo and Prof. Andrey Chuvilin take us on a historical journey to explore findings that confirm that when we talk about metals, “smaller is stronger”. They also describe the structure of metals, the latest research on how the friction process between two metals can change their surface properties and how industry can benefit from this.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is hosting a free webinar on Determination of the Hydrophobicity Index of Nanomaterials Through an Affinity Measurement.  It will present the method to determine the hydrophobicity index of nanomaterials, through an affinity measurement, described in the OECD Test Guideline No. 126.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday, 20 September from 14:00 to 15:30 (CEST).

Register now to learn the use and limitation of this test guideline and the validation exercise that was done to support its development.

Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in English and Spanish.

The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has issued the second revision of “Guidance on the safety assessment of nanomaterials in cosmetics” (SCCS/1655/23). The updated document includes new sections on solubility and dissolution rate, reproductive toxicity and endocrine disruption among many others. It also includes the reference to the latest European Commission’s definition on nanomaterial and revised sections on read-across and grouping.

The European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) has published a study that systematically reviews and assesses alternative methods for the testing of the safety of nanomaterials without the use of animals. An inventory of the available methods was prepared as part of the study.

Dr Fazel Abdolahpur Monikh writes about a protocol that helps understand the bioaccumulation and biodistribution of metal-bearing engineered nanomaterials in organisms. The protocol is used to quantify the cellular uptake of metal-bearing engineered nanomaterials on a cell-by-cell basis.

Experts willing to contribute to this project should contact OECD no later than 7th July 2023.

The OECD Working Group of National Co-ordinators of the Test Guidelines programme (WNT) project 3.10 led by Germany, is developing a Test Guideline for determining the dissolution of nanomaterials in aqueous environmental media. To validate the procedures for accurate measurement and data reduction, this project is looking for laboratories that can support an inter-laboratory comparison test, which will take place between October and December 2023.

European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) has released a document titled “Guidance on the implementation of the Commission Recommendation 2022/C 229/01 on the definition of nanomaterial”. This document outlines important terminology and concepts, provides a decision-making tool for identifying nanomaterials, and addresses identification of nanomaterials through measurements for the Recommendation on the definition of nanomaterial (2022/C 229/01). Additionally, the document includes an Annex listing documentary standards relevant to ensure a harmonised and coherent regulatory implementation of the definition of nanomaterial at both European Union and national level.

We have just updated the content in the three key tables on the website:

1. National reporting schemes
2. Completed and planned REACH substance evaluations on nanomaterials
3. Overview of REACH information requirements and available methods

They're soon to be available in all official EU languages. 

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column by Dr Ricki Rosenfeldt on dispersion stability and dissolution rate studies, and learn the most important aspects to consider before starting them on nanomaterials.

“Although the guidance documents, as well as the available test guidelines, help laboratories to find an appropriate way to generate the required data for REACH registrations, there might be big variations between laboratories regarding the study design.” 

In our latest guest column, Prof. Bengt Fadeel shares his experiments with zebrafish and what he discovered about the gut microbiome and 2D materials.

The European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) is looking for topics that could be addressed in its upcoming studies. 

If you have a proposal for a specific study topic that fills an information gap relevant to nanomaterials on the EU market, EUON may be able to carry it out. Submit your proposal by 12 May 2023 and contribute to the work of the EUON.

In their guest column, Dr Chandima Bulumulla and Dr Abraham G. Beyene explain how single walled carbon nanotubes can help measure bio-chemical processes happening inside our brain.

“In addition to dopamine release events, we were able to visualise the diffusion of dopamine outside of neurons following their release. With this new technology, we were able to image dopamine release events in axonal terminals, and more importantly, shed light on poorly understood dendritic dopamine release events.”

In his guest column, Professor Jenő Gubicza explains how to monitor the crystal defect structure in nanomaterials using a non-destructive experimental technique.

“X-ray line profile analysis (XLPA) is a very effective indirect method for the characterisation of the nanocrystalline microstructure. XLPA analyses the diffraction peak shape and yields the crystallite size distribution and the type and density of crystal defects with good statistics and in a non-destructive way.”

Read the lastest nanopinion from Dr Dmitry Kireev where he shares information about the usefulness of graphene tattoos.

“Graphene Electronic Tattoos (GETs) are a type of skin-wearable electronic device that can be used for personalized healthcare by transmitting the bio-electrical activity of the human body in measurable electrical signal. [..] The GETs are optically transparent, lightweight, and flexible, making them adhere and conform to the micro-curvature of the skin [..]."

The nanotechnology knowledge base NanoData has been updated with new market data. Two new nanotechnology sectors – Agriculture and Consumer products (with subsectors Textiles and Cosmetics) have been added to the existing ones. 

ECHA has published two new ex-ante publicity notices for two service contracts.

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has released an updated appendix for nanomaterials, which provides guidance on how to obtain data under the new information requirements for nanoforms. This includes information on how to perform environmental testing and advice on preparation methods and testing strategies for physico-chemical testing of nanoforms.

Dr Anastasios Papadiamantis and Dr Antreas Afantitis tell us about the findings of a study commissioned by the EU Observatory for Nanomaterials on the EU market for nanomaterials, including substances, uses, volumes and key operators. Read all about it in our Nanopinion guest column.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column by Dr Araceli Sánchez on why it is essential to set up legally binding occupational exposure limits for nanomaterials and the challenges that come with this.

“Considering scientific evidence on the size-related effects of nano particles on causing adverse human health effects, in addition to the specific limits for each type of engineered nanomaterial, setting up a legally binding occupational exposure limit for the total number of particles regardless of their origin seems a logical step to protect workers’ health.”

A desk study commissioned by the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) provides information on the state-of-the-art, the existing gaps, and the research needs of the degradation, biodegradation and persistence of nanomaterials. The study also points out the need for a common definition for ‘safe’ or ‘safer-by-design’ – the process of including safety at the earliest stage of product development – to increase the societal acceptance of nanomaterials.

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.

On 23 November 2022, in its judgment in joined cases T-279/20, T-283/20 and T-288/20, the General Court considered that the Commission made a manifest error in its assessment of the reliability and acceptability of the study on which the classification was based. It also found that the Commission infringed the criterion according to which that classification can relate only to a substance that has the intrinsic property to cause cancer.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column by Dr. Joanna Dziadkowiec and Prof. Markus Valtiner on how unique properties of nanomaterials could be used to preserve historic buildings.

The latest study by the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) predicts growth in the European nanomaterial market over the period of 2021 - 2025. The study provides a list of nanomaterials currently on the market and identifies key market operators. 

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column from Sesha Manuguri, PhD, on how to use the knowledge obtained from the processes in nature to create smart materials that can dynamically change colours in response to environmental stimuli.

The Nano Technology Knowledge Base (NanoData) is available on the EUON website since June 2022. During the transition period all users visiting the old NanoData website were automatically redirected to the new one. However, such automatic redirection is no longer available.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr. Eugenia Valsami-Jones on how nanomaterials may bypass the blood-brain-barrier and gain access to the brain. The knowledge acquired can help make the use of nanomaterials safer by ensuring that properties that facilitate crossing of the BBB are designed out of products that could come to direct contact with our bodies.

Nanomaterials are used across almost all industrial sectors to add specific properties to many products, including cosmetics. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, for example, are used as UV filters in sunscreen which can help to protect you from skin damage caused by the Sun’s rays.

Now users can benefit from the new content that has just been added to the EUON website. You can find information on new topics at EUON in the “Uses” section (e.g., energy, nanomaterials in sunscreens) and in the “Safety” section (toxicity or environmental fate, among others). Below you can find the new pages that have been translated and are available in all 23 official EU languages.

The update to the Appendix for nanoforms applicable to the Guidance on Registration and Substance Identification (version 2.0) published by ECHA is now available in 23 official EU languages.

The deadline to receive study proposals for the EUON has been extended.

The new submission deadline is 1 August.

The guest contributions on the EUON website will be paused in the period between July and August. Nanopinions will be back in September with new and interesting topics covering different areas of nanomaterials.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column from Vladimir Murashov, Ph.D. and John Howard, M.D. on various models that have been developed to characterise exposure to manufactured nanomaterials, the existing challenges in their application and the proposed solutions.

NanoData website, a searchable database at the EUON, was recently relaunched with an improved look and feel. Now users can benefit from an additional feature which allows them to download data on nanomaterials in different products, research projects, publications, patents and organisations in bulk.

Is there a topic or field related to nanomaterials that you think could benefit from more research? Let us know! The European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) is now looking for topics that could be addressed in its upcoming studies. The EUON conducts up to three studies annually to address knowledge gaps on nanomaterials.

The European Commission has updated, as of 10 June 2022, the Recommendation 2011/696/EU on the definition of nanomaterial, that supports a coherent EU regulatory framework for nanomaterials.

NanoData is the knowledge base on nanosciences and -technology hosted by the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON). It contains data on different products, research projects, publications, patents and organisations. We have given NanoData a new look and feel to improve the user experience. You can now visualise statistics quickly through built-in charts and graphs. The data can be easily filtered by different sectors and geographic locations. Users will be able to benefit from a bulk download feature at a later date.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr. Yasui Takao on using nanowire devices to extract microRNAs from urine to distinguish cancer patients from healthy individuals and improve the early detection of cancer.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr. Anita Jemec Kokalj and Dr. Dana Kühnel about defining the criteria to evaluate which properties of nanoplastics should be reported in future studies to decrease uncertainties in the risk assessment of nanoplastics.

ECHA has published an update to the Appendix for nanoforms applicable to the Guidance on Registration and Substance Identification (v.2.0).

The main changes include additional guidance on the joint submission of data, clarifications regarding the need for one dataset per nanoform/set of nanoforms and information on the registration of sets of nanoforms versus single nanoforms.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr. Alberto Bianco, Dr. Maurizio Prato and Dr. Kostas Kostarelos, from Graphene Flagship, about graphene and why it’s not the same as carbon nanotubes.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr. Eugenia Valsami-Jones about ACEnano, a Horizon2020 project which has recently completed its 4.5-year course. The main goal of the project was to strengthen clarity into nanomaterial risk assessment by a tiered approach to nanomaterials physiochemical characterisation. 

A new report shows that limited data is available on the amount of waste streams containing nanomaterials in the EU. However, despite this, existing public data on waste is highly valuable for waste managers, scientists, regulatory bodies, and potentially consumers.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr. Michael Riediker about nanomaterials at the workplace. Curiosities a few years ago, nanomaterials are now part of our lives. When talking about the workplace, protective measures and guidance are needed.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr. Daniel Ruiz-Molina about a novel nanotechnological encapsulation approach to deliver dopamine to the brain. The delivery could be used to treat Parkinson’s disease, which is caused by a deficit of dopamine due to the death of the neurons responsible for its production.

Read out latest Nanopinion guest column from Frank Le Curieux, Scientific Area Leader for Genotoxicity at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Our author presents the ECHA Nanomaterials Expert Group (NMEG) by writing about its creation and history, its organisation, its main tasks and its future after 2021.

Read out latest Nanopinion guest column from Chiara Venturini, Director General at Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA), who talks about the lack of precision with the word “nanomaterials” and the need to have a more detailed language when talking about them.