Risks of nanos in water
By the AVICENN team – Last modification May 2020
Risks of nanos in water
The marketing and use of manufactured nanomaterials has increased considerably since the early 2000s in many fields: cosmetics, textiles, household appliances, sports equipment, glass and construction materials, cars, aeronautics, boats, food, etc.
More and more nanomaterials, nanoparticles or nanoparticle residues are present in water (from wastewater, some continue on to the treatment plants, then into rivers and streams). With what consequences for the aquatic fauna and flora? What about the microorganisms in the soil on which the sludge from the wastewater treatment plant is spread? Concerns are emerging among a growing number of stakeholders. Who is doing what on these different aspects?
On all these questions, only scattered information is available today, often difficult to understand for the non-specialist or addressing only a particular aspect without giving an overall vision.
Therefore, this dossier initiated in 2015 gathers the available information as well as the issues that arise today and could become a problem if no action is taken by the various institutions involved.
It is a base that we wish to complete and update according to the evolution of knowledge: your contributions are welcome!
Our information sheets on the subject
Our latest news
Upcoming Nano Agenda
- Webinar presenting the example guide produced by NanoMesureFrance, to illustrate the difficulties encountered in dimensional analysis of particles by electron and atomic force microscopy.
- Organizers: Eurotox
- Speaker: Carola Voss (Helmholtz Zentrum München)
- Registration form
- MOOC from April 28 to June 22, 2025
- Public who has carried out two or more years of scientific studies at university, as well as professionals or the self-educated who want to discover, learn more or acquire specific knowledge in some area of nanoscience.
- Organizer: Paris Saclay University
- Course paln:
- Theme 1: Introduction to nanoscience and nanotechnology – Let’s lay the foundations and discover the key concepts of this field.
- Theme 2: How can you “see” and fabricate nano-objects? We will discover what tools are used to observe matter at these scales and what techniques the scientist can use to make objects that are only a few billionths of a meter in size.
- Theme 3: Nanochemistry – From carbon to porous solids and nanoparticle synthesis; applications of the field.
- Theme 4: Nanophysics – Quantum effects and nanoelectronic devices; optical nanostructures: the confinement of light and emission; nanosensors; applications of the field.
- Theme 5: Nanobiology, Nanomedicine, Micro-nanofluidics – The study and manipulation of molecules; treating diseases with nanomedicine; the on-chip manipulation of liquids for medical diagnosis; applications of the field.
- Theme 6: Nanoscience and Society: Are Nanotechnologies dangerous? Societal, health and environmental issues.
- Website: www.fun-mooc.fr/en/courses/understanding-nanosciences
- E-learning program: awareness-raising for personnel who come into contact with nanomaterials during research, formulation, production, maintenance, cleaning, upkeep, etc., as well as safety coordinators or engineers, facility managers, heads of laboratories where nanoparticles are handled.
- 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…
Any questions or comments? This information sheet compiled by AVICENN is intended to be completed and updated. Please feel free to contribute.
File originally created in February 2015