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What are nanomaterials made of? And what are their real effects on health and the environment? To help science answer all these questions, ANSES calls on the authorities to redefine this term.
Nanomaterials are materials whose size is between 1 and 100 nanometers. Given their micro size, they are able to cross the body and thus affect human health. In this context, ANSES calls on the French authorities to redefine the term “nanomaterials” – deemed unclear.
A new definition that excludes too many nanometric objects
“In its new definition of nanomaterials, the modifications adopted by the European Commission tend to restrict the number and nature of the objects which will ultimately be considered as such.“, stresses ANSES in the preamble to the press release.
A definition, judged “less encompassing and flexible than the previous one“, which therefore poses a problem: applied as it is, it leads for example to setting aside certain nanometric objects, such as micellar-type nanovectors (vesicles, liposomes, lipid particles, etc.), designed to transport medical substances, nutritional or agriculture-related.
ANSES recommends a broad definition based on dimensional criteria
This new definition therefore confuses the issue, instead of clarifying what nanomaterials are.
“Certain modifications proposed by the Commission are based on the use of terms which do not enjoy consensus, for example “the solid state” or even the “identifiable” character of a nano-object. In addition, there are concepts inherent to the subject, such as that of “constituent” particle, which imperatively require clarification.“, says Anthony Cadene, coordinator of the expertise at ANSES.
In this context, the agency recommends giving the broadest possible definition of nanomaterials based solely on dimensional criteria. This, in order to “not to miss those which would prove to be of concern for health”.
A decisive choice of words since this new definition will help scientists to assess the risks of nanomaterials.