Canada's Approach for Assessment of Nanomaterials in Commerce: Prioritization and Tools for Assessing Consumer Exposure

摘要

Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada have undertaken an initiative to prioritize and assess manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) in commerce in Canada for risk to human health and the environment. On the basis of information obtained from a mandatory survey on production/import volume and uses, and literature search on uses, hazard, and physical-chemical properties, over 50 MNMs were identified in Canadian commerce and are being prioritized as low, moderate, high priority for further action, or unable to be prioritized due to a lack of hazard/exposure information. Over 95% of the MNMs were found to be (potentially) used in consumer applications. Due to the lack of measured exposure data, Canada is leading an OECD initiative to identify and assess the applicability of exposure models and databases for use in characterizing consumer exposure to MNMs. This paper will discuss uncertainties/challenges encountered within the context of regulatory risk assessment of nanomaterials.