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Developing Sustainable

Nanomanufacturing

Dhimiter Bello, ScD., MSc


Dept. Work Environment, University of
Massachusetts Lowell
& The Center for High Rate
Nanomanufacturing
 Sustainable Production can be defined as
the creation of goods and services
using processes and systems that are:
Non-polluting; Conserving of energy
and natural resources; Economically
viable; Safe and healthful for workers,
communities, and consumers; Socially
and creatively rewarding for all working
people.
 Lowell Center for Sustainable Production,
http://www.sustainableproduction.org/abou.what.shtml,
September 3, 2009.


Reminder
Slide Courtesy of
Prof . R . Herrick ,
Harvard School of
Public Health

I wish to acknowledge receipt of your


October 1st enclosing copy of the
September 25th letter from the editor of
‘ASBESTOS’. I quite agree with you
that our interests are best served
by having asbestosis receive the
minimum of publicity .
Lessons from the past

• Harremoës P, Gee D, Macgarvin M, Stirling A, Keys J, Wynne B,


et al. 2001. Late lessons from early warnings: the
precautionary principle 1896-2000. Environmental Issue
Report, No 22. Copenhagen: European Environmental Agency.


• ‘We are in danger of repeating old, potentially costly,
mistakes.’
 Hansen SF, Maynard A, Baun A, Tickner JA. 2008. Late lessons from
early warnings for nanotechnology. Nat Nanotechnol 3(8): 444-447.

• Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering,


“Nanoscience and nanotechnologies: opportunities and
uncertainties”, July 29, 2004,
http://www.nanotec.org.uk/finalReport.htm.
 Provided a roadmap for responsible development of
nanotechnology

• The Responsible Nano Forum. 2009. A beacon or just a


CHN Path to
Nanomanufacturing
T h ru st 3 : Te stb e d s ,

NEU ;
A p p lica tio n s a n d
Exposure Assessment
R e lia b ility

Thrust 4 : Responsible Manufacturing


& Control

NEU ; UML ; UNH


NEU ; UML ; UNH

High-rate Toxicity
Screening

Education & Outreach


End-of-Life Impacts
Thrust 2 :
High - rate

UML
Assembly and Transfer
NEU ; UML ; UNH Environmental and
Economic Uncertainties

Regulatory Issues

Thrust 1 : Social & Ethical Issues


Nanoelements and
Nanotemplates
NEU ; UML ; UNH

Slide courtesy of 5
Isaacs, J.
Thrust 4: RESPONSIBLE
NANOMANUFACTURING
Human Health and the Environment
MAXIMIZE
Technological
Benefits , while
MINIMIZING Health
RISKS !

•Toxicity Screening • Are there Exposures?


•Biological Significance • Are they Hazardous?
•Better Exposure Metrics • How to best avoid them?
Broader Context: Safety ~
1/Risk
 Health Risk = f(EXPOSURE,
 TOXICITY,
EPIGENETIC &
NUTRITIONAL,
 TIME) 1.Exposures as important as
Toxicity
TOXICI
EXPOSURE
TY 2.We can act upon exposures
in face of other
uncertainties
3.Toxicity is strongly
influenced by material
EPIGENETIC type
&
NUTRITIONAL 4.Limited options on
epigenetic factors
;Dhimiter_Bello@uml.edu 7
Changes are difficult to
make
• Approximate ratio of publications on
Synthesis & Applications : Toxicity:

Exposures

 >1000 : 10-100:MATERIAL
1
SCIENCES &
NANO
MANUFACTURING
TOXICI
TY

Exposur
e
First US-China workshop
Priority Areas on nano EHS
1 . Nanomaterial Liberation in air & environment
2 . Green nanomanufacturing , focusing on the scientific
issues arising in the systematic design of
environmentally benign nanoproducts and
nanoprocesses ;
3 . Series of joint US - China workshops on sustainable
development of nanotechnologies ;
4 . An international Institute for Sustainable
Nanotechnology Development as a world - wide hub of
exchange and cooperation .
A PROPOSED CONCEPTUAL MODEL:
Grant proposal to NSF P.I.R.E., Chen J, PI

RESEARCH &
Exposure Assessment EDUCATION
Components

INTERNATIONAL
Interdisciplin
Modifications, Processing and Performance
ary

Human and Environmental Toxicity
3 Test Systems
that reflect
commercializati
on stages
METRICS

Thrust 1 Thrust 2 Thrust 3


NM SYNTHESIS HUMAN EXPOSURES TOXICITY EVALUATION
& PERFORMANCE Inhalation Tiered approach
•Structural •Number
•Mechanical concentration 1. SCREENING
•Size •Oxidative Stress in
•Electrical Distribution human serum
•Photodegradation
•Surface area •Cellular toxicity:
•Antimicrobial Multiple endpoints in
activity •Morphology human lung cells
•Chemical (macrophages &
• analysis endothelial) and
•Physicochemical bacteria
characterization Dermal
2. Animal Toxicity (limited)
3. Biomarkers in humans
4. Environmental impact: Effects
on wastewater treatment
bacteria

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