Potential release scenarios for carbon nanotubes used in composites.

The expected widespread use of carbon nanotube (CNT)-composites in consumer products calls for an assessment of the possible release and exposure to workers, consumers and the environment. Release of CNTs may occur at all steps in the life cycle of products, but to date only limited information is available about release of CNTs from actual products and articles. As a starting point for exposure assessment, exploring sources and pathways of release helps to identify relevant applications and situations where the environment and especially humans may encounter releases of CNTs.

Nanoparticle exposure at nanotechnology workplaces: a review.

Risk, associated with nanomaterial use, is determined by exposure and hazard potential of these materials. Both topics cannot be evaluated absolutely independently. Realistic dose concentrations should be tested based on stringent exposure assessments for the corresponding nanomaterial taking into account also the environmental and product matrix.

The potential risks of nanomaterials: a review carried out for ECETOC.

During the last few years, research on toxicologically relevant properties of engineered nanoparticles has increased tremendously. A number of international research projects and additional activities are ongoing in the EU and the US, nourishing the expectation that more relevant technical and toxicological data will be published. Their widespread use allows for potential exposure to engineered nanoparticles during the whole lifecycle of a variety of products.

Effect of corona discharge on the gas composition of the sample flow in a Gas Particle Partitioner.

A Gas Particle Partitioner (GPP) that allows highly efficient separation of gas and particles with no effect on the thermodynamic conditions and substantially no change of the gas composition has been developed. The GPP is a coaxial arrangement with inner and outer electrodes and utilizes a corona discharge to electrically charge the particles and a strong electric field to remove them from the sample flow. Several measures were taken to avoid an influence of the corona discharge on the gas composition.

Determination of coagulation coefficients and aggregation kinetics for charged aerosols.

A new method has been developed which allows determination of the coagulation coefficient of two oppositely charged particles experimentally. For this purpose, quasi-monodisperse particles of different sizes and morphology were used to study the influence of different parameters on the coagulation coefficient. A good agreement between experimental results and the classic Fuchs' theory was obtained when including a method accounting for particle nonsphericity.