Scientific meeting on microplastics and nanomaterials
The “scientific meeting on microplastics and nanomaterials”, organized online by ANSES and ANR, presented an overview of the research funded by these agencies regarding health and environmental aspects. The sources of exposure to these particles, the monitoring of their presence in the environment and their consequences on ecosystems and human health were discussed. At the end of the day, a panel of experts discussed “Micro/nano: between futility and utility”.
Among the 1300 registered participants, AVICENN intervened to recall that fifteen years ago, the questions mentioned during the symposium were already being asked. In 2021, a few million euros later, we still face the same difficulties in assessing human and environmental exposure to nanotechnology.
The knowledge presented by the researchers, although very rich and essential, still shows many uncertainties. Yet, more than 400,000 tons of nanomaterials (at least) are produced and imported every year in France alone. Apart from E171, there are few restrictions on nanomaterials (rarely respected), the “no data, no market” principle is not applied. Will the PNSE 4 increase transparency and vigilance on nanomaterials?
Recordings of the presentations are available on the conference website.
Our information sheets to go further
Upcoming Nano Agenda
- International conference on metallic nano-objects for experts working in the interdisciplinary field of metallic nanoparticles, with a particular emphasis on nanoparticle synthesis and characterization, plasmonics, optics and photonics, catalysis, biomedicine, electronics, and nanoparticle recycling
- Organizers / Partners: CNRS, Bordeaux University, Bordeaux INP, ICMCB, CRPP, CBMN, ISM
- Website: https://mno2026.sciencesconf.org
- Toxicokinetics: the fate of chemicals in the body” training course:
- the different routes of entry for toxic products
- the importance of toxicokinetics in preventing substance toxicity,
- xenobiotic absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination
- nanoparticle toxicity
- Organizer: Association Toxicologie Chimie (ATC)
- Date: March 26, 2026
- Speaker: Nicole Proust (Research Engineer, CNRS Honorary Research Director, Palaiseau)
- Website: www.atctoxicologie.fr/…
- E-learning program: a 2-hour awareness-raising session aimed at personnel potentially exposed to nanomaterials at the workplace, heads of laboratories or facilities where nanomaterials are handled, safety coordinators or engineers.
- Organizers: INSTN Grenoble (CEA)
- On the program:
- 1 – Introduction, definition and characteristics of nanomaterials
- 2 – Toxicity of nanomaterials: the state of knowledge
- 3 – Metrology and characterization of nanomaterials
- 4 – Prevention and protection against nanomaterials in the workplace
- 5 – Quiz: assessment of learning outcomes
- The 2-hour course can be viewed for one month from the date of registration.
- Website: https://instn.cea.fr/…risques-lies-aux-nanomateriaux…