Original Articles
13 February 2025
Vol. 42 No. 1 (2020)
https://doi.org/10.4081/gimle.433

RISKS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATED WITH PRODUCTS AND WASTE CONTAINING NANOMATERIALS: REGULATORY AND MANAGEMENT ISSUES IN THE EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK

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Nanomaterials, nanomaterials-containing products, waste management, nanomaterials-containing waste, risk assessment.
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Authors

Luca Zamengo
luca.zamengo@aulss3.veneto.it
Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene and Forensic Toxicology (LIATF), Azienda ULSS 3 Serenissima,Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene and Forensic Toxicology (LIATF), Azienda ULSS 3 Serenissima, Mestre Venezia, Italy.
Mariano Nasello
Prevention Laboratory, Health Protection Agency of Brianza, Monza, Italy.
Barbara Branchi
Water Analytical Unit, Regional Agency for Prevention, Environment and Energy of Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
Giulio Bracalente
Specialization School in Chemical Risk Assessment and Management, Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova,, Italy.
Walter Vergari
Specialization School in Chemical Risk Assessment and Management, Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy.
Cesare Bertocco
Specialization School in Chemical Risk Assessment and Management, Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy.
Andrea Costernaro
Specialization School in Chemical Risk Assessment and Management, Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy.

Nanomaterials can revolutionize everyday products, but there are still many unanswered questions about the risks they may pose to human health and the environment. Inconsistent definitions and metrological issues are still of concern for manufacturers, importers and distributors who are demanded to comply with strict regulations. It is also likely that the increasing number of nanomaterial-containing products available on the market will vary the chemical and physical properties of the waste produced, which is currently treated in traditional plants without any particular differentiation.
Treatment efficiency for nanomaterials-containing waste should then be addressed and the risks of uncontrolled emissions considered. Finally, the risks associated with the use of nanomaterials-containing products may not be sufficiently characterized as current exposure estimation models are not designed for estimating exposure to nanomaterials and they are likely to be affected by large uncertainties. Hence, it would be important for national and international institutions to provide, as soon as possible, harmonized regulations covering all aspects of the life cycle of products and waste containing nanomaterials. This paper is proposed as a starting point for reflection on the main regulatory and management issues associated with products and waste containing nanomaterials, focusing mainly on the European framework.

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RISKS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATED WITH PRODUCTS AND WASTE CONTAINING NANOMATERIALS: REGULATORY AND MANAGEMENT ISSUES IN THE EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK. (2025). Giornale Italiano Di Medicina Del Lavoro Ed Ergonomia, 42(1), 5-10. https://doi.org/10.4081/gimle.433
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