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If you would like to find out more about becoming involved with the Nanotechnology Industries Association, please contact us at enquiries@nanotechia.org.
Nanotechnology Industries Association
Square de Meeûs 38-40
1000 Brussels
Belgium
t: +32 240 161 30
f: +32 240 168 68
NIA Project:
PROSPEcT: Ecotoxicology Test Protocols for Representative Nanomaterials in Support of the OECD Sponsorship Programme
The PROSPEcT Project (PROSPEcT: Ecotoxicology Test Protocols for Representative Nanomaterials in Support of the OECD Sponsorship Programme) is a 50:50 Public-Private-Partnership between the Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA), specific NIA Member-Companies, several university laboratories, leading in the research of nanoparticle detection and exoctoxicology, and the UK Government (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Technology Strategy Board, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council). Funded with £3.7 Million, the PROSPEcT Project represents one of the largest single contributions to the OECD WPMN Sponsorship Programme.
The PROSPEcT Project started on the 1st January 2009 and will run for 3 years, focusing focuses on investigating the environmental toxicology, environmental fate, physicochemical charaterisation and detection (in gaseous and liquid media) of ZnO- and CeO2 nanoparticles.
Background – OECD WPMN Sponsorship Programme:
In November 2007, the OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN) launched the OECD Sponsorship Programme for the Testing of Manufactured Nanomaterials:
The programme involves OECD member countries, as well as some non-member economies and other stakeholders to pool expertise and to fund the safety testing of specific Manufactured Nanomaterials (MNs). In launching this Sponsorship Programme, the WPMN agreed on a priority list of 14 MNs for testing (based on materials which are in, or close to, commerce). They also agreed a list of endpoints for which they should be tested. Much valuable information on the safety of MNs can be derived by testing a representative set for human health and environmental safety. [source: excerpt from the OECD website].
Follow these links to find out more about the OECD WPMN Sponsorship Programme (press release, 10th December 2007), or to find out more about the ongoing activities of the OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials.
OECD Publication Series on the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials
The OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN) continuously supports the safe research and development, manufacture and use of manufactured nanomaterials through the publication of significant reports and guidance in its OECD Publication Series on the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials.
OECD Database on 'Research into the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials'
OECD Database on Research into Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials is a global resource which details research projects that address environmental, human health and safety issues of manufactured nanomaterials. This database helps identify research gaps and assists researchers in future collaborative efforts.