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Researchers Studying Safety of Nanomaterials - NSF Award Funds Investigation

A multidisciplinary research team led by Nianqiang (Nick) Wu, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at WVU, has received a $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to investigate the safety of manufactured nanomaterials.

Wu is collaborating with Andrij Holian at the University of Montana, and Dale Porter and Krishnan Sriram at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) on the study.

"The goal of our investigation is to evaluate and understand the potential environmental hazards and risks of human exposure to nanomaterials," Wu said. "This is the key step toward any protective action that may prove necessary."

The data obtained from this research will contribute to risk assessment and may ultimately establish exposure standards and recommended handling practices to significantly avert human health and environmental risks.

Nanotechnology involves the design and manipulation of materials on the nanometer scale, much smaller than the diameter of a human hair. Nanomaterials are now finding extensive applications in cosmetics, paints, high-end sport equipment, cars, airplanes, and cell phones, said Wu. The world demand for nanomaterials is projected to reach $4.2 billion by 2011 and $100 billion by 2025.

Nanomaterials have different physical and chemical properties than similar larger-sized materials. This enables humans to generate new products, improve product quality, reduce the use of resources and save energy. However, nanomaterials also pose uncertainties regarding their environmental impact and health effects, said Wu, and little is known as to whether tiny particles are more toxic than large-sized materials or not.

"We do not have sufficient information about how nanoparticles are transported to one place to another place in the ecological system," said Wu.

Wu is a part of the WVNano Initiative, WVU's focal point for discovery and innovation in nanoscale science, engineering and education. Elevated to a statewide initiative in 2006 through a National Science Foundation EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement grant, the WVNano Initiative continues its leadership role in partnership with other state institutions. For more information, visit wvnano.wvu.edu.

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09/03/2008