Presentation 1: Examples of uses of nanomaterials at work

Sectors / products using nanomaterials Date, location

Construction sector More generally, construction uses include composite materials to improve strength, stiffness, electrical conductivity or heat resistance Cement, concrete and wet mortar (e.g. nano-binders in ultra-high performance concrete) Steel (increased strength, reduced wear, reduced cracks, strengthened welds) Glass (temperature control, heat resistant, self-cleaning, anti-reflection) Insulation materials – thermal, noise, temperature regulation (aero-gel, vacuum insulation panels) Coating and paints (e.g. UV and water sensitive coatings for self-cleaning buildings, graffiti-resistant paints; electro-chromic windows, flame retardance, anti-bacterial, scratch resistance) Road and other infrastructure construction (longer life, water-repellence, noise reduction, energy collection, self-cleaning) Wood – protective coatings, to prevent wear and erosion, algal growth, infestation by woodworm and termites, UV/light degradation, References: http://www.efbww.org/pdfs/Nano%20-%20GB%20Summary.pdf http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=26700.php http://www.hielscher.com/nano_cement_concrete_01.htm Date, location

Construction sector (cont/d) Reference: http://www.efbww.org/pdfs/Nano%20-%20GB%20Summary.pdf Date, location

Agriculture and food production/processing Key areas of development are “nanostructures” (or “nanotextures”) in foodstuffs and nano-sized or nano-encapsulated food additives Nanotextures used in spreads, mayonnaise, cream, yoghurts, ice creams, etc. Nano-encapsulated food additives include colours, preservatives, flavourings and supplements (neutraceuticals) Both uses are claimed to give new and enhanced tastes, improved textures, consistency and stability of emulsions Agriculture Limited public information on use as no legal requirement to identify nanomaterials in agricultural products Nanomaterials presumed used for improved delivery of agrochemicals in the field, better efficacy of pesticides and better control of dosing of veterinary products: e.g. slow- or controlled-release fertilizers/pesticides. Worker exposure to nanomaterials relates to workers in food and feed processing and on farms References: FAO/WHO technical report on state of the art on initiatives and activities relevant to risk assessment and risk management of nanotechnologies in the food and agriculture sectors (http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3281e/i3281e.pdf) and FAO/WHO Expert meeting on the application of nanotechnologies in the food and agriculture sectors: potential food safety implications (http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1434e/i1434e00.pdf) Images: http://www.ecpa.eu/page/application and http://libcloud.s3.amazonaws.com/93/25/c/4723/2014_Tiny_Ingredients_Big_Risks_Web.pdf Date, location

Textiles Used in uniforms, laboratory coats, outdoor clothing, protective clothing (firefighters,) Nanomaterials provide key properties: antistatic, self-cleaning (dirt and water repellence), moisture absorbency, UV protection, increased durability, antimicrobial, fire resistance, heat insulation, shielding of electromagnetic radiation References: http://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/376/publikationen/datenblatt_nanoprdukte_textilien_e.pdf Images: http://www.nanotechproject.org/cpi/products/white-swan-uniforms-and-scrubs-with-nano-tex/ http://www.elliottaustralia.com/site/pages/Firefighting/Reference_Center.php Date, location

Pigments Used in paints and coatings for decorative (e.g. deeper colour intensity) and protective (e.g. resistance to corrosion, wear, scratching, graffiti) purposes Relevant to the printing, painting and electronics sectors, and those using inks, paints, and pigments (e.g. transportation (automotive, ships, trains), construction, communications) Many nanomaterials used for light absorption so have brighter colours Nano has long been used in colouring products, but is more specifically engineered now to create particles in nano-scale References: http://www.inkworldmagazine.com/issues/2003-02/view_features/nanotechnology-is-impacting-inks-pigments-pri/ http://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/378/publikationen/use_of_nanomaterials_in_coatings_0.pdf Photo: http://eramanath.wordpress.com/nanocoatings/ Date, location