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The use of Engineered Nanomaterials in Environmental Remediation: Environmental, Health, and Regulatory Issues
The document discusses the use of engineered nanomaterials in environmental remediation, highlighting their potential benefits and the associated environmental, health, and regulatory concerns. It outlines various types of nanomaterials used in remediation, the current application at numerous sites, and the lack of specific regulations governing their use. The author emphasizes the need for further research, best practices, and cooperation among stakeholders to address unanswered questions regarding the safety and effectiveness of these technologies.
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The use of Engineered Nanomaterials in Environmental Remediation: Environmental, Health, and Regulatory Issues
- 1. The Use ofEngineered Nanomaterials in Environmental Remediation: Environmental, Health, and Regulatory Issues Tennessee Environmental Conference March 26, 2014 Gregory Nichols, MPH, CPH Health Research Associate ORAU 1
- 2. Outline • Overview • Types of materials • Sites • Environmental and health concerns • Regulations • Scientific and legal gaps 2
- 3. What is nanotechnology? • Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter between 1 and 100 nm Yokel and MacPhail, 2011 3
- 4. Soil and groundwaterremediation • The removal of contaminants from environmental media for the protection of human health/environment or for redevelopment 4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_remediation http://energy.gov/em/services/site-facility-restoration/soil-groundwater-remediation
- 5. Nanoremediation basics •Nanoremediation = The application of reactive nanomaterials for transformation and detoxification of pollutants (Karn et al., 2009) • Nanotechnology is being used across the country at Superfund and other hazardous waste sites • Introduced as a theoretical approach in 2000 5 – Taken off more than expected – Still not mainstream, yet – Has been used at approx. 60 sites around the world • Shows promise but still relatively untested • First 15 years focused on application • Shift towards understanding implications
- 6. Types of materialsused Nanomaterials Examples Remediation Uses BNPs and zero-valent iron 6 Ni; Au; Pd/Pt; BNPs; nZVI • Waters • Sediments • Soils • Hydrocarbons Metal oxides NPs TiO2; ZnO; CeO Nanometals Ag Carbonaceous NPs MWCNT; nanoporous activated carbon fibers (ACFs) • Sorption of metals (Cd; Pb; Cu) • Sorption of BTX Nano-clays/zeolites Na6Al6 · Si10 · 12 H2O Sorption/ion exchange for metals Carbon-based dendrimers Hyper-branched polymers PAHs; ultra-filtration of heavy metals
- 7. Sites using nanoremediation http://www.nanotechproject.org/inventories/remediation_map/ 7 Approximately 30 sites currently using/testing nanoremediation techniques
- 8. Select nanoremediation sites City, State Contaminant Nanomaterial Lakehurst, NJ DCE, VC, PCE, TCE, TCA BNP Bridgeport, OH DCE, VC, TCE Palladium-Silica Ringwood, NJ Heating oil Nano-Ca Cape Canaveral, FL TCE EZVI Santa Maria, CA TCE, DCE Nano-porous Fe Dayton, OH TCE, PCE nZVI-silica hybrid Edison, NJ TCA, TCE, DCA, DCE, 8 chloroethane, VC nZVI Rochester, NY Methylene chloride; 1,2-DGP; 1,2-DCA nZVI Trenton, NJ DCE, VC, PCE, TCE, CCl4; 1,1- DCE, chlorofrom Fe/Pd http://www.clu-in.org/download/remed/nano-site-list.pdf
- 9. Environmental Risks •Uptake of nanoparticles by 9 – Plants – Fungi – Aquatic organisms – Microbes – Smaller terrestrial organisms • Potentially ecotoxic – Alter soil pH – Phototoxicity • Bioaccumulation
- 10. Health Issues •Occupational 10 – Respiratory – Cardiovascular – Neurological – Genotoxic – Hepatic/Renal • Community/Population – Recreational/drinking water contamination – Bioaccumulation – Perception of risk
- 11. Potential Impact •“Trojan Horse” effect • Contaminants could “rebound” • Free radical creation • Shape, size, reactivity of particles – complicated chemistry (lots of unknowns) 11
- 12. Current Regulations •No nano-specific regulations exist • US Agencies are adapting existing regs/guidelines to nanotechnologies 12 – DOL/OSHA • Occupational Safety and Health Act (1970) • HAZCOM (29 CFR 1910.1200) – EPA • Toxic Substances Control Act (1976) • Clean Water Act (1970) • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (1976) • Safe Drinking Water Act (1974) • Clean Air Act (1970)
- 13. Current Regulations (cont’d) • Europe 13 – Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) • Global – Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) – International Organization for Standardization (ISO) – World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines
- 14. Research needs •Continued remediation technology development 14 – “Smart” nanoparticles – Detection equipment (tracking/monitoring) – Delivery systems • Tools for characterizing complex subsurface conditions • Biological assessment capabilities – Modeling – Cytotoxic assays • Health/Environmental studies – Nanomaterial life-cycle – Risk management
- 15. Recommended actions •Development of standard “best – practices” • Standard protocol for site characterization • Registry/medical surveillance for workers • Database(s) for tracking nanomaterial types/quantities • Protocol for verifying cleanup of spent nanomaterials needs to be developed • Sharing of human health/ecological data • Long-term studies of ecosystem impact • State regulations/updated federal statutes 15
- 16. Summary • Whilenanoremediation appears to be a very promising technology, many questions remain unanswered 16 – Chemical Fate and transport – Toxicity/Human health – Containment/Recovery of materials – Ecotoxicity – Community health • A cautious approach is recommended • Cooperation between industry, academia, and government is crucial
- 17. Thank You! GregoryNichols, MPH, CPH Health Research Associate ORAU Occupational Exposure and Worker Health Programs Gregory.Nichols@orau.org Ph: (865) 576-3144 17