The EPA is conducting extensive internal and external research on nanotechnology to understand environmental and health implications. This research focuses on environmental fate and transport, exposure pathways, effects assessment methods, and risk analysis approaches. The goal is to develop proactive and predictive tools and strategies to manage any risks from nanomaterials while encouraging beneficial applications of the technology.

1. Office of Research and Development
Nora Savage, PhD
US EPA,
Office of Research & Development
National Center for Environmental Research
Technology & Engineering Division
DECEMBER 8, 2009
EPA & Nanotechnology:
Research Activities

2. Office of Research and Development
OUTLINE
EPA Interests in Nano
 EPA Research Needs
 EPA Research Activities
 Researcher Resources
 Overarching Goals

3. Office of Research and Development
What Is Special About Nanotechnology?
 Nanoscale materials can have different properties
Enhanced electrical or heat conductivity ,
 Increased strength, tensile properties ,
 Different magnetic properties,
 Altered light reflection – color changes w/ size

4. Office of Research and Development
Anthropogenic
Engineered
• Carbon-based
NTs, Fullerenes
• Metal Oxides
• Quantum Dots
• Nanotubes
• Nanowires
• Dendrimers
Incidental
Particles from:
• Combustion
• Industrial
Processes
• Vehicles
• Construction
Natural
Particles from:
• Plants, Trees
• Oceans, other
water bodies
• Erosion
• Dust
EPA Interest
Material Source

5. Office of Research and Development
What Is Nanotechnology?
EPA mission – to protect human health and the
environment?
What does “uniqueness mean for this mission?
How can nano research move protection of public
health and the environment forward ?

6. Office of Research and Development
Instruments
Tunneling
microscopy
Food, Water
and the
Environment
Remediation,
Protection
Materials
Science
Lightweight
and strong
Energy
Production
/ Storage
Hydrogen
Fuel Cells
Information
Technology
GMR Hard
Disk
Benefits: Today & Tomorrow
Medicine
and
Health
Drug
delivery

7. Office of Research and Development
 Self-cleaning glass, ceramics, and metals
 Stain-free clothing and mattresses
 Lighter weight, stronger materials
 Automobile bumpers, tennis racquets
 More efficient, cheaper catalytic converters on cars
 Longer lasting tires and tennis balls
 Improved dental-bonding/filling materials
 New types of burn and wound dressings
 Impermeable materials for food packaging
EPA Interest
Consumer Products

8. Office of Research and Development
Unique Properties of Nanomaterials
• Chemical reactivity of nanoscale materials greatly different
from more macroscopic form, e.g., gold
• Vastly increased surface area per unit mass, e.g., upwards
of 100 m2 per gram
• Quantum effects resulting in unique mechanical, electronic,
photonic, and magnetic properties
• New chemical forms of common chemical elements, e.g.,
fullerenes, nanotubes of carbon, titanium oxide, zinc oxide,
other layered compounds
EPA Interest
Material Characterization

9. Office of Research and Development
EPA’s Interest in Nanotechnology
• Provide leadership
- U.S. and global communities - environmental appls and impls
• Support research
- Enhance collaborations, increase knowledge base
• Address statutory requirements
- CAA, CWA, FIFRA, RCRA, SDWA, TSCA, etc.
• Encourage proactive approach
- Predictive tools (SARs, comp tox), P2, SxD
• Fulfill mission
- Develop appropriate risk assessment & risk management approaches

10. Office of Research and Development
ORD Nanomaterial Research Strategy
Location:
http://www.epa.gov/nanoscience/files/nanote
ch_research_strategy_final.pdf

11. Office of Research and Development
Nanomaterial Research Strategy (NRS)
In fiscal years 2007 and 2008, EPA will focus on the following
high priority areas.
Based on White Paper & NEHI documents
• Environmental fate, transport, transformation
• Exposure
• Monitoring and detection methods
• Effects assessment methods consistent with and derived via
exposure information.
EPA Research Needs

12. Office of Research and Development
ORD Nanomaterial Research
Strategy – based on…
Nanotechnology Environmental
and Health Implications (NEHI)
Interagency Working Group of
NSET, (NSTC, 2006)
http://www.nano.gov/NNI_EHS_research_needs.pdf
Nanotechnology White Paper
Office of the Science Advisor
Science Policy Council
http://www.epa.gov/OSA/pdfs/nanotech/epa-
nanotechnology-whitepaper-0207.pdf
EPA White Paper on
Nanotechnology (EPA, 2007)
EPA 100/B-07/001 | February 2007
www.epa.gov/osa
Nanotechnology White Paper
Office of the Science Advisor
Science Policy Council

13. Office of Research and Development
Nanotechnology Research Budget History
$4.6
$5.6
$4.5
$8.6
$10.4
$16.5
$17.8
$0
$2
$4
$6
$8
$10
$12
$14
$16
$18
$20
FY
2004
Enacted
FY
2005
Enacted
FY
2006
Enacted
FY
2007
Enacted
FY
2008
Enacted
FY
2009
Enacted
FY
2010
President's
Budget
Millions
Base Program

14. Office of Research and Development
Research at EPA
Applications – use nano to improve monitoring/detection
and remediation techniques, pollution prevention
(Approx. $12.2 M to date)
Implications – assess the interactions of enms (human &
env), exposure, and possible risks that may arise
(Approx. $17.8 million to date, excluding ultrafine)

15. Office of Research and Development
NCER Nano Funding
• Extramural research program initiated in 2002
• ` Resources ~$5.0 M/year, total >$45 Million
• STAR researchers positioned as leaders in nano EHS
• SBIR total ~ 8 million
• Opportunities to collaborate with other agencies on RFAs
• Opportunities to coordinate with stakeholders

16. Office of Research and Development
EPA Nanotechnology STAR Grants
2001 Environmental Applications of Nanotechnology
 16 awards, $5.6 million
2002 Environmental Applications of Nanotechnology
 16 awards, $5 million
2003 Health and Environmental Effects of Manufactured Nanomaterials
 12 awards, $4 million
2004 Environmental Applications of Nanomaterials
 7 awards, $2 million
2004/5 Health and environmental effects of Nanoparticles
 19 awards, $7 million (joint with NSF, NIOSH)
2005/6 Health and Environmental effects of Nanomaterials
 29 awards, $10.3 million with NSF, NIOSH, & NIEHS

17. Office of Research and Development
Environmental Effects of Nanomaterials
– Joint with Department of Energy (DOE) and
National Science Foundation (NSF)
– Investigating Environmental Effects of
Manufactured Nanomaterials – fate/transport &
exposure
– ~ $5 M, 15 STAR awards
– 6 NSF awards
– 1 DOE award
2007 Solicitation

18. Office of Research and Development
Biological Effects of Nanomaterials
– Joint with National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences (NIEHS)
– Manufactured Nanomaterials: Physico-
chemical Principles of Biocompatibility and
Toxicity (R01): through NIEHS
– ~ $2 M, 4-year project
2007 Solicitation

19. Office of Research and Development
2007 GRO Solicitations
Detection and Monitoring
– Greater Research Opportunities Program
– Detection & monitoring devices for engineered
nms
– ~ $2 million, $400 K/yr, 3-yr awards
– Opened June 13, 2007, Closed September 13,
2007
– 6 proposals
– 1 passed peer review and awarded

20. Office of Research and Development
Center for Environmental Implications of
Nanotechnology
–National Science Foundation (NSF) lead
– Investigating Environmental Effects of
Manufactured Nanomaterials – fate/transport &
exposure
– ~ 2 Center awards made
»UCLA and Duke lead institutions
2007 Solicitation

21. Office of Research and Development
Environmental Effects of Nanomaterials
– Joint with United Kingdom
– Investigating Environmental Effects of
Manufactured Nms – fate/transport & exposure
– ~ $4 million (US, UK), $2 million each, 4 years
– Consortia teams, Collaboration required
– Open February/March 2009
– ~13 proposals received
2008 Solicitation

22. Office of Research and Development
Increasing Scientific Data on the Fate, Transport
and Behavior of Engineered Nanomaterials in
Selected Environmental and Biological Matrices
– Collaboration with European Commission
–~ $5 million (EPA, NSF, USDA)
– “EC Framework 7 call
– Encourages international collaboration
– Open November, close February
2009 Solicitation

23. Office of Research and Development
In-House Research at EPA
• Initiated in 2007, $3M
• Currently $4.0 M
• Position EPA labs and staff
• $5 M FY 2008, research initiated
• Opportunities to work with STAR and federal
researchers

24. Office of Research and Development
2009 STAR Grantees’ Meeting
Las Vegas 11/09 – 11/10

25. Office of Research and Development
Nanomaterials –
Applications & Implications
Cross blood-brain barrier –
drug delivery
Placed in subsurface areas -
remediation
Small, real-time sensors –
detection & protection
Same compound, different
properties – novel uses
Different disciplines –
increased collaboration
Cross blood-brain barrier –
impair health
Placed in subsurface areas –
impair ecosystem
Small, real-time sensors –
privacy concerns
Same compound, different
properties – reg. concerns
Different disciplines –
limited understanding
The Good… The Bad…

26. Office of Research and Development
Nanomaterials –
Applications & Implications
The Ugly??

27. Office of Research and Development
Risk Assessment –
Life-Cycle Perspective
Raw Material
Production
1st Product
Manufacturing
Worker Exposure
Industrial Emissions
Accidental Releases
2nd Product
Manufacturing
Product
Development

28. Office of Research and Development
Consumer
Use or Misuse End of Life
General Population
Exposure
Recycle
Industrial Emissions
Releases/Discharges
Manufacturing
Process
Disposal
Abrasion
Direct Contact
Pollution
Secondary Use
Risk Assessment –
Life-Cycle Perspective

29. Office of Research and Development
Consumer
Use or Misuse End of Life
Ecosystem Exposure
Recycle
Industrial Emissions
Releases/Discharges
Manufacturing
Process
Disposal
Abrasion
Env. Application
Land, Air, Water Pollution
Incidental Env Debris
Risk Assessment –
Life-Cycle Perspective

30. Office of Research and Development
Nanotechnology
Factsheet
Solicitations
Newsroom
Research Projects
Publications &
Proceedings
Nanotechnology has both applications and implications for
the environment. EPA is supporting research in this
technology while evaluating its regulatory responsibility to
protect the environment and human health. This site
highlights EPA’s research in nanotechnology and provides
useful information on related research at EPA and in other
organizations.
Nanotechnology Home
http://www.epa.gov/ncer/nano
NCER’s Nano Web Page
NOW…

31. Office of Research and Development
EPA’s Nano Web Page
http://www.epa.gov/nanoscience
Types of Nanomaterials Exposure
Ecological Effects Health Effects
Green Manufacturing Risk Assessments
Pollution Management Fate and Transport
Research Centers Research Grants
Life Cycle Research

32. Office of Research and Development
SUMMARY
• Support research (internally, externally, nationally,
internationally) to provide data needed to make policy and
regulatory decision on emerging contaminants, proactive
• Lay foundation for understanding enms transformations
in various environmental media
• Explore toxicity effects of the altered materials
• Develop a systematic and integrated approach to assess,
manage and communicate risks associated with enms in
environment. complex mixtures
• Work nationally and internationally to develop
comprehensive research portfolio that addresses
environmental and human health concerns.

33. Office of Research and Development
GOAL
Develop proactive & predictive
approaches to manage risk
Beyond C2
Protecting
Destroying