USEPAUSEPA’’ss Nanotechnology Research Program:Nanotechnology Research Program:Environmental Applications and ImplicationsEnvironmental Applications and Implications

Marti OttoOffice of Superfund Remediationand Technology InnovationU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyWashington, D.C. 20460

2008 International ConferenceNanotechnology for the Forest Products Industry –

Nanotechnology from Research to ApplicationsSt. Louis, Missouri

June 26, 2008

photo from epa.gov

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• Background• Opportunities and Challenges• USEPA and Nanotechnology• Research• Outreach/Programs

OutlineOutline

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Background: NanotechnologyBackground: Nanotechnology

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Properties of Nanoscale Materials

Properties of Properties of NanoscaleNanoscale MaterialsMaterials

• Chemical reactivity of nanoscale materialsmay differ from macroscopic form

• Vastly increased surface area per unit mass, e.g., upwards of 100 m2 per gram

• Quantum size effects result in unique mechanical, electronic, photonic, and magnetic properties of nanoscale materials

• New chemical forms of commonchemical elements, e.g., fullerenes,nanotubes of carbon, titanium oxide www.cnanowww.cnano--rhonerhone--alpes.org/spip.php?article57alpes.org/spip.php?article57

p2library.nfesc.navy.milp2library.nfesc.navy.mil

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•• SelfSelf--cleaning glass, ceramics, and metalscleaning glass, ceramics, and metals•• StainStain--free clothing and mattresses free clothing and mattresses •• Lighter weight, stronger materials Lighter weight, stronger materials •• Automobile bumpers, tennis racquets Automobile bumpers, tennis racquets •• More efficient, cheaper catalytic converters on carsMore efficient, cheaper catalytic converters on cars•• Longer lasting tires and tennis balls Longer lasting tires and tennis balls •• Improved dentalImproved dental--bonding/filling materialsbonding/filling materials•• New types of burn and wound dressings New types of burn and wound dressings •• Impermeable materials for food packagingImpermeable materials for food packaging

Consumer ProductsConsumer ProductsConsumer Products

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Nanotechnology

Consumer Products Inventory

Nanotechnology Nanotechnology

Consumer Products InventoryConsumer Products Inventory

www.nanotechproject.org/consumerproducts

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Opportunities and ChallengesOpportunities and Challenges

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Environmental OpportunitiesEnvironmental Opportunities

• Pollution prevention• Treatment• Remediation• Sensors/detection• Green manufacturing• Energy• Other

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Environmental ChallengesEnvironmental Challenges

• Potential toxicity• Potential exposure• Fate, transport, transformation

– Mobility and persistence– Bioavailability, bioaccumulation

• Critical metric: particle size/number, morphology, surface area, functionalization

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USEPA and NanotechnologyUSEPA and Nanotechnology

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To Protect Human Healthand the Environment

U.S. EPAU.S. EPA’’s Missions Mission

Gallium Phosphide (GaP) Nanotrees(Prof. Lars Samuelson, Lund University, Sweden [Dick et al. 2004])

Zinc oxide nanostructures synthesized by a vapor-solid process. (Image courtesy of Prof. Zhong Win Lang of Georgia Tech

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EPAEPA’’s Interest in Nanotechnologys Interest in Nanotechnology

• Benefit from the potential for improved environmental protection– Clean up past environmental problems– Improve present processes– Prevent future environmental problems

• Understand the potential impacts of nanomaterials and nano-scale products on human health and the environment

• Support development of the technology in an environmentally safe and sustainable manner

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Nanotechnology ResearchNanotechnology Research

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EPA NanotechnologyEPA NanotechnologyResearch ActivitiesResearch Activities

Extramural Grants• EPA first funded nanotechnology research grants in 2001 as part of its

exploratory research program

– Through 2007, 86 grants awarded for approx. $30 million

– Approximately 50/50 between applications and implications research

• Grants for 2008 on implications are in the process of final selection/funding by EPA, NSF, NIOSH, and NIEHS

• Information available online at www.epa.gov/ncer/nano

In-house Research• EPA’s scientists have conducted research on the toxicity of ultrafine

particulate

• EPA has been funding in-house research on nanotechnology since 2007

• This research is guided by the Nanomaterials Research Strategy (NRS)

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EPA Extramural Research onNanotechnology or Nanomaterials

EPA Extramural Research onEPA Extramural Research onNanotechnology or Nanotechnology or NanomaterialsNanomaterials

Applications: – Green manufacturing – Contamination remediation– Sensors for environmental

pollutants – Waste treatment

Implications• Detection and Monitoring• Environmental and Human Health Effects• Biocompatibility and ToxicitySmall Business Innovation Research

www.sciencejobs.com

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STAR Research Funded to Date on STAR Research Funded to Date on Nanotechnology ImplicationsNanotechnology Implications

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EPA NanotechnologyExtramural Research Activities

EPA NanotechnologyEPA NanotechnologyExtramural Research ActivitiesExtramural Research Activities

• Recent research solicitations– Environmental effects of manufactured nanomaterials:

Fate, Transport, and Exposure– Detection and Monitoring– Information available online at www.epa.gov/ncer/nano

• Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology

– NSF and EPA funding– Investigating Environmental Effects of Manufactured

Nanomaterials – fate/transport & exposure– $5M per year for 5 years– http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07590/nsf07590.htm

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EPA NanotechnologyEPA NanotechnologyExtramural Research ActivitiesExtramural Research Activities

• Upcoming Nanotechnology Research Grants– Investigating Environmental Effects of Manufactured

Nanomaterials: a Joint Research Solicitation - EPA, NSF & DOE

– Opens: September 2008

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Risk Assessment: Risk Assessment: A LifeA Life--Cycle ApproachCycle Approach

Raw Material Production

Consumer Product

ManufacturingConsumer Use End of Life

Worker Exposure Consumer Exposure

Recycle

Landfills Incinerators

Human Population and Ecological Exposure

Industrial emissions

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EPA’s NanomaterialResearch Strategy

EPAEPA’’s s NanomaterialNanomaterialResearch StrategyResearch Strategy

• Draft research strategy released in February 2008

• Expert external peer meeting was held April 11, 2008

• Final document expected in 2008

• In the near term, EPA will focus on:

- Environmental fate, transport, transformation

- Exposure

- Monitoring and detection methods

- Effects assessment methods

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ORD Research EmphasesORD Research Emphases

2007 and 2008• Environmental fate, transport, and

transformation

• Environmental exposure

• Monitoring and detection methods

The resulting data would be used to inform and develop effects and exposure assessment methods and identify important points of releases for potential management

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ORD Research EmphasesORD Research Emphases

2009 – 2011• Health and ecological effects

– Understanding the toxicity of nanomaterials to which people and the environment are exposed

– Informed and refined by case studies that provide information on how to address high-exposure-potential nanomaterials

2012• Develop systematic and integrated approaches to

assess, manage, and communicate any identified risks associated with nanomaterials in the environment

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Outreach/ProgramsOutreach/Programs

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Outreach/ProgramsOutreach/ProgramsOutreach/Programs

• Workshops on Nanotechnology for Site Remediation

http://www.frtr.gov/nanohttp://esc.syrres.com/nanotech/http://www.epa.gov/OSP/hstl/Nanotech%20Proce

edings.pdf• Series of Internet Seminars on

Nanotechnology and Superfundhttp://clu-in.org/training

• EPA ORD nanotechnology websitehttp://es.epa.gov/ncer/nano/index.html

• Issues area on CLU-IN websitehttp://clu-in.org/nano

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Outreach/ProgramsOutreach/Programs

EPA ORD/OPPT conference, “Pollution Prevention through Nanotechnology” (Sept. 2007)

• Use of nanotechnology or nanomaterials in current manufacturing process to prevent pollution

• Nanomaterial products that– Provide a greener alternative to current products– Improve energy efficiency

• http://www.epa.gov/oppt/nano/nano-confinfo.htm

Shown: TIR LEXEL® luminaire.

40-hour laptop batteries? LED-lighted homes? Cheaper, better solar panels?

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• EPA Nanotechnology White Paper released Feb 15, 2007(available at http://www.epa.gov/OSA/nanotech.htm )

• EPA Nanomaterials Stewardship Program- Encourages companies to notify EPA of the manufacture, import or use of nanoscale materials, even though TSCA normally allows entry into commerce without such notification- Also encourages use of risk management practices- www.epa.gov/oppt/nano/

• Coming Soon- EPA nanotechnology web portal- Superfund fact sheet on nanotechnology for site remediation (July 2008)- International Conferences on Applications and Implications of Nanotechnology

- Chicago, IL: October 7-9, 2008- Amherst, MA: June 9-11, 2009

Outreach/ProgramsOutreach/ProgramsOutreach/Programs

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• Engineered nanomaterials offer the potential to greatly improve our quality of life, including innovative ways to prevent pollution prevention and perform environmental remediation

• At the same time, the unique properties of these materials raise questions about their potential health and environmental risks

• Public and private sector, domestic and international R&D investments to advance nanotechnology are significant and must be coordinated

• We must seize the opportunity to “get it right the first time”

Take-Home MessagesTakeTake--Home MessagesHome Messages

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Marti OttoUSEPA

Office of Superfund Remediationand Technology Innovation

703.603.8853Otto.martha@epa.gov

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