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Luna Project Scientist Published in Occupational Medicine

Aug. 21, 2006

Project Scientist Matt Hull of Luna Innovations Incorporated has co-authored an in-depth review titled “Manufacture and use of nanomaterials: current status in the UK and global trends.” The paper, published in the August 2006 issue of the internationally peer-reviewed journal Occupational Medicine, provides an overview of the production and use of nanomaterials, particularly in the United Kingdom, and addresses the global need to collect more information about exposure to nanomaterials in both manufacturing and user scenarios. As the market for nanomaterial-based products grows, the potential for human and environmental exposures will increase.

“Manufacture and use of nanomaterials” concludes that nanomaterial manufacturing in the UK does not reflect the global emphasis on fullerenes, nanotubes and fibers, and thus helps UK officials prioritize regulatory needs accordingly. The review discusses how many university departments, spin-offs and private companies have developed processes for the manufacture of nanomaterials, but are only producing small quantities for research and development (R&D) purposes. The paper covers research and development trends at universities and related institutions, which provide strong support for the nanotechnology industry. The manufacture of nanomaterials in the UK is compared to global trends, and assumptions are made on usage patterns, import/export, and possible exposure scenarios.

Luna Innovations has been working on an initiative called NanoSAFE that leverages the company’s experience with nanomanufacturing and commercial application of nanotechnology to develop assays, environmental and industrial safety protocols, engineering controls for nanoparticle exposures, and next-generation technologies for ensuring the safety of nanotechnology.

“One of the central priorities of Luna’s NanoSAFE initiative has been to promote fact-based studies that depict accurately the social and environmental issues surrounding nanotechnology,” Hull said. “This review does that by establishing some of the groundwork needed to address actual human and environmental health risks of nanomaterials.”

For this paper, Hull collaborated with three researchers from the Institute of Occupational Medicine, Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Central Science Laboratory, and Environmental Department of the University of York, all located in the UK.

This paper is available to subscribers of Occupational Medicine or on a Pay-per-Article basis. Internet access is http://occmed.oxfordjournals.org in Volume 56, Number 5, pages. 300-306. For more information on the NanoSAFE initiative please contact Matt Hull at hullm@lunainnovations.com.

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