Continued Efforts on Nanomaterial‐Environmental Health and Safety Is Critical to Maintain Sustainable Growth of Nanoindustry
Sijin Liu, Tian Xia
Abstract
Abstract Nanotechnology is enjoying an impressive growth and the global nanotechnology industry is expected to exceed US$ 125 billion by 2024. Based on these successes, there are notions that enough is known and efforts on engineered nanomaterial environmental health and safety (nano‐EHS) research should be put on the back burner. However, there are recent events showing that it is not the case. The US Food and Drug Administration found ferumoxytol (carbohydrate‐coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle) for anemia treatment could induce lethal anaphylactic reactions. The European Union will categorize TiO 2 as a category 2 carcinogen due to its inhalation hazard and France banned use of TiO 2 (E171) in food from January 1, 2020 because of its carcinogenic potential. Although nanoindustry is seemingly in a healthy state, growth could be hindered for the lack of certainty and more nano‐EHS research is needed for the sustainable growth of nanoindustry. Herein, the current knowledge gaps and the way forward are elaborated.