News
News
Topical Scientific Workshop – Regulatory Challenges in Risk Assessment of Nanomaterials
23-24 October 2014, Helsinki, Finland
Topical scientific workshops of the European Chemicals Agency aim to foster discussions among academia, regulators, industry and other stakeholders on the possible regulatory impacts that the latest scientific developments may have. An anticipated outcome of these workshops is the emergence of new or improved approaches which may be applied in the implementation of the REACH, CLP and Biocides Regulations.
Aim of the workshop
The Topical Scientific Workshop on Nanomaterials was held on 23-24 October 2014 at ECHA. The workshop brought together close to 200 experts in the field of risk assessment of nanomaterials representing academia, policy makers, industry and NGOs.
The workshop provided a unique platform for academia and regulators to discuss how to address current challenges from the regulatory perspective which can be reflected and employed in the ongoing and future research topics on nanomaterials. The discussions were reinforced by information of the recent developments and of risk assessment methodologies applied in chemicals management both within and outside the European Union.
The workshop illustrated well the strategic objectives of ECHA, to serve as a hub for building scientific and regulatory capacity in the area of regulatory challenges. The anticipated outcome of workshop was early emergence of new and/or improved approaches in the context of risk assessment of nanomaterials. The outcome of the workshop clearly matched the expectations and its output will form a cornerstone in the guidance developments for the implementation of the REACH, CLP and Biocidal Products Regulations.
The proceedings of the workshop are foreseen to be published in the first quarter of 2015.
Proceedings
- Workshop proceedings [PDF]
Presentations
Topic 1: Introduction to international views on scientific challenges in regulatory risk assessment of nanomaterials
Ms Jenny Holmqvist, European Chemicals Agency
Mr Jim Alwood, US Environmental Protection Agency
- 3. Canada's Experience with Chemicals Assessment and Management and its Application to Nanomaterials [PDF]
Dr Brad Fisher, Environment Canada
Topic 2: Measurement and characterization of nanomaterials
Dr Wendel Wohlleben, BASF, Germany
Dr Keld Jensen, National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Denmark
Prof. Michael Stintz, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
Topic 3: Metrology and dose metrics for hazard and exposure assessment throughout the life cycle
Prof. Günter Oberdörster, University of Rochester, USA
Prof. Thomas Kuhlbusch, Institut für Energie- und Umwelttechnik, Germany
Dr Steve Hankin, Institute of Occupational Medicine, United Kingdom
Topic 4: Environmental fate, persistence and bioaccumulation throughout the life cycle
Dr Geert Cornelis, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Dr Claus Svendsen, Centre of Ecology & Hydrology, United Kingdom
Prof. Teresa Fernandes, Heriot-Watt University, United Kingdom
Topic 5: Read across and categories of nanomaterials
Dr Wim De Jong, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, The Netherlands
- 14. Grouping of nanomaterials using short-term inhalation studies and related in vitro methods [PDF]
Dr Robert Landsiedel, BASF, Germany
Scientific Committee Members
The chairman of the workshop, Prof. Wim De Coen from the European Chemicals Agency, was supported by an international Scientific Committee in the preparation of the workshop programme. The members of the Scientific Committee are:
- Prof. Wim De Coen (chairman), European Chemicals Agency, Finland
- Dr David Carlander, Nanotechnology Industries Association, Portugal
- Prof. Kenneth A. Dawson, Centre for BioNano Interactions, Ireland
- Dr Roger Doome, Industrial Minerals Association Europe, Belgium
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Ms Jenny Holmqvist, European Chemicals Agency, Finland
Chair of OECD WPMN's Steering Group on Testing and Assessment of Manufactured nanomaterials - Dr Derek Knight, European Chemicals Agency, Finland
- Prof. Frank Le Curieux, European Chemicals Agency, Finland
- Prof. Kai Savolainen, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Finland
- Dr Kathrin Schwirn, Federal Environment Agency, Germany
- Dr Nicolas Segebarth, European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Belgium
- Dr Hermann Stamm, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Italy
- Dr Claus Svendsen, Centre of Ecology & Hydrology, United Kingdom
- Dr Tom Van Teunenbroek, Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, The Netherlands
- Dr Violaine Verougstraete, Eurometaux, Belgium
Background documents
Background document for the five topics [PDF]
Programme
- Programme [PDF]
ECHA Newsletter article
Using read-across and categories to improve safety of nanomaterials
Contact email
For specific questions, contact: scientificevents [at] echa.europa.eu