Methodological, political and legal issues in the assessment of the effects of nanotechnology on human health

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Version: Author's accepted manuscript
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Serval ID
serval:BIB_AF3485E78324
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Methodological, political and legal issues in the assessment of the effects of nanotechnology on human health
Journal
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Author(s)
Guseva Canu Irina, Schulte Paul A., Riediker Michael, Fatkhutdinova Liliya, Bergamaschi Enrico
ISSN
1470-2738 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0143-005X
Publication state
Published
Issued date
02/2018
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
72
Number
2
Pages
148-153
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Review
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) raise questions among the scientific community and public health authorities about their potential risks to human health. Studying a prospective cohort of workers exposed to ENMs would be considered the gold standard for identifying potential health effects of nanotechnology and confirming the 'no effect' levels derived from cellular and animal models. However, because only small, cross-sectional studies have been conducted in the past 5 years, questions remain about the health risks of ENMs. This essay addresses the scientific, methodological, political and regulatory issues that make epidemiological research in nanotechnology-exposed communities particularly complex. Scientific challenges include the array of physicochemical parameters and ENM production conditions, the lack of universally accepted definitions of ENMs and nanotechnology workers, and the lack of information about modes of action, target organs and likely dose-response functions of ENMs. Standardisation of data collection and harmonisation of research protocols are needed to eliminate misclassification of exposures and health effects. Forming ENM worker cohorts from a combination of smaller cohorts and overcoming selection bias are also challenges. National or international registries for monitoring the exposures and health of ENM workers would be helpful for epidemiological studies, but the creation of such a registry and ENM worker cohorts will require political support and dedicated funding at the national and international levels. Public authorities and health agencies should consider carrying out an ENM awareness campaign to educate and engage all stakeholders and concerned communities in discussion of such a project.

Keywords
Nanotechnology, Occupational Health, Health Policy, Registries
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
07/12/2017 19:16
Last modification date
31/10/2019 16:11
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