UE Nano-safety

Nanotechnologies give access to new and interesting properties of materials. Applications or potential applications of nanomaterials are today very numerous in research, industrial processes but also everyday life. As a consequence, impact on health and safety of those new substances becomes important. Indeed, assessment on life cycle analysis is a key element of development. This course presents the current knowledge and research regarding the potential risks associated to the development of nanotechnologies, organized around 3 axes:

• Toxicology and ecotoxicology current knowledge, thanks to presentation of latest scientific studies on the subject,
• occupationnal potential risks : how to manage an emerging risk ? what’s mandatory ? what kind of metrology can we use ? what are the best practices in order to prevent impact on health and environment ?
• social perception of nanotechnologies over the world and over different cultures.

Examen terminal avec documents

Content:

1. Presentation of definitions and applications of nano-objects
International definitions in place, current environement, examples of emissions in different economic activities, field of applications (environment, energy, communication, health, everyday life, …)
2. Nanotoxicology and ecotoxicology
     What’s known , what’s going on ? what are the barriers of knowledge ?
     Key elements for a critical and objective reading of scientific edited publications.
3. Metrology :
      Behavior of nano-objects in the air
      Technologies and devices for nano-metrology, possibilities and limits
       Use of devices during a practical session
4. Regulations or recommandations available
5. Preventing measures: best practices available, as currently deployed in different organisms or industries