Nanopesticides: Questions about their potential adverse effects
In Science for Environment Policy n°558, the European Commission relays the analysis and recommendations of a team of researchers on the subject of “nanopesticides”. If there are many benefits expected from the use of nanopesticides, notably a lower quantity of active substance used, they can only keep their promises if their risks are well evaluated and minimized. The researchers point out the questions raised by the nanopesticides life cycle, their fate and the toxic effects on the environment . Their recommendations include:
- the development of a precise definition of the term “nanopesticide”
- adapting current testing guidelines to account for the properties and behavior of nanoscale materials, and standardizing testing guidelines for nanopesticides
- environmental assessments of nanopesticides over long periods of time and with appropriate organisms
- a better physical understanding of the risks posed by nanopesticides and their degradation.
Note: the authors point out that no nanomaterial-based pesticides are currently listed in the EU Pesticides Database, which lists active substances approved for use in Europe. Agriculture is however the sector of use that comes first in the French r-nano register (in number of declarations; for the volume, the information does not exist).
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- International Conference on Advanced Nanotechnology and Nano Materials
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- 15th Meeting on Nanoscience Advances (MNA 2025)
- Organized by: C’Nano (CNRS), Aix-Marseille University
- Dates: from September 29th to October 2nd
- Website: https://cnano-paca.fr/conf/mna2025/index.html
- Training for nanomaterial handlers (technicians, engineers, PhD students, researchers, etc.) and prevention assistants
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- Objectives: learn about the risks involved in handling nanomaterials and the prevention and protection measures to be implemented, as well as best practices for limiting exposure.
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- Health effects / Risk assessment
- Preventive measures / Good laboratory practice / Time and space management / Collective and individual protection / Cleaning methods for surfaces, materials and equipment / Product storage / Product management
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- Case studies: risk analysis and recommendations
- Examples of workstation design involving nanomaterials
- Website: https://formation.ifsem.cnrs.fr/training/1027/4426