Nano and Other Emerging Chemical Technologies Blog

On December 19, 2024, the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO) released The National Nanotechnology Initiative Supplement to the President’s 2025 Budget, which also serves as the annual report for the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). According to the report, President Biden’s fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget requests over $2.2 billion for NNI, with cumulative funding totaling over $45 billion since the inception of NNI in 2001 when Congress approved increased funding for...

On December 18, 2024, the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) announced the availability of the National Nanotechnology Initiative Environmental, Health, and Safety Research Strategy: 2024 Update. Prepared by the Nanotechnology Environmental and Health Implications (NEHI) Working Group within the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSET) Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council, the 2024 update builds on the initial 2011 strategy, laying out a comprehensive,...

The European Union (EU) Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) announced on December 4, 2024, the availability of the European Chemical Agency’s (ECHA) Second interim evaluation of the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON). Prepared by WSP acting as a third-party evaluator, the interim evaluation assesses EUON against six criteria: effectiveness; efficiency (including economy and proportionality); relevance; coherence; EU-added value; and utility. WSP’s recommendations include:...

On December 12, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued several final significant new use rules (SNUR) for certain chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMN) and are also subject to an Order issued by EPA pursuant to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 89 Fed. Reg. 100361. Two of the SNURs are for substances identified generically as multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PMN P-21-216 and PMN P-21-217). The SNURs require persons who...

The European Union (EU) Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) announced on November 12, 2024, that it published a new study evaluating nanomaterials applications in biocidal, plant protection, and fertilizing products used in agriculture. The study, “Collection and review of information on nanomaterial-based and nano-enabled plant protection products, biocidal products and fertilising products,” addresses knowledge gaps on applications, exposure, and hazards of nanomaterials and...

The European Commission’s (EC) Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) published its final opinion on a new coating for titanium dioxide on October 25, 2024. According to the abstract, SCCS concluded that “there are a number of uncertainties and data gaps that do not allow a conclusion on the safety of titanium dioxide (nano) coated with a combination of w/w 6% Aluminium Hydroxide, 14% Sodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate and 10% Dimethicone (Eclipse 70) — either on...

The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO) is organizing a series of National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) webinars on nanometrology, metrological challenges, and recent advances in three topical areas: food, agriculture, and the environment; nanoscale medical and pharmaceutical products; and nanoparticles in electronics. Registration is open for the sixth webinar in the series, “Nanometrology for Continuous and Automated Manufacturing.” The November 1, 2024, webinar will...

On October 10, 2024, the European Union (EU) Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) announced that, in collaboration with NovaMechanics, it is conducting a survey to gather insights on analytical methods for identifying, characterizing, and quantifying carbon-based nanomaterials in various matrices. According to EUON, the initiative “aims to assess the current situation about analytical methods for these types of nanomaterials, whether advanced or more classical nanomaterials.” Responses will...

The European Union (EU) Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) announced on September 26, 2024, that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published the following reports under its NAMs4NANO Project:...

On October 5, 2024, the Minister of the Environment announced in the Canada Gazette publication of a proposed plan of priorities for the assessment of chemical substances. Under the 2023 amendments to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health are required to “develop, consult on and publish a plan with timelines” by June 2025. The proposed list of prioritized substances for assessment and the rationales...