Risk Assessment of Nanomaterials: Regulatory Context

This fact sheet from the Center for International Environmental Law outlines the risk assessment procedures for manufactured nanomaterials, highlighting the challenges in applying existing regulatory frameworks to these materials due to their unique properties and knowledge gaps.

• Nanomaterials possess unique properties based on their shape, surface characteristics, and chemical composition, which allows them to interact with humans, animals, and plants differently than chemicals with the same composition. These materials are used in a diverse range of products, from traditional examples like carbon black in tyres and synthetic amorphous silica in toothpaste to newer applications like carbon nanotubes in fuel cells and quantum dots in electronics. The annual global market for nanomaterials is estimated at 11 million tonnes.
• While manufactured nanomaterials are theoretically subject to standard health, worker, and environmental protection regulations, the actual effectiveness of these frameworks is limited. This limitation is caused by the specific nature of nano-risks, persistent knowledge gaps regarding health and environmental impacts, a lack of standardized testing methods, and disagreements over definitions and terminology.
• The risk assessment (RA) process is used to identify, characterize, evaluate, and interpret the risks of a substance. Regulatory bodies and governments utilize the results of these assessments to implement risk-management measures intended to protect the environment, workers, consumers, and the general public.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2016). Risk Assessment of Nanomaterials: Regulatory Context. https://www.ciel.org/reports/factsheet-risk-assessment-nanomaterials-regulatory-context/

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Risk Assessment of Nanomaterials: Regulatory Context. 2016. https://www.ciel.org/reports/factsheet-risk-assessment-nanomaterials-regulatory-context/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Risk Assessment of Nanomaterials: Regulatory Context |date=22 December 2016 |url=https://www.ciel.org/reports/factsheet-risk-assessment-nanomaterials-regulatory-context/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2016risk, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Risk Assessment of Nanomaterials: Regulatory Context}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2016}, month = dec, url = {https://www.ciel.org/reports/factsheet-risk-assessment-nanomaterials-regulatory-context/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }