The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) has contributed to pioneering European research that provides important guidance on how to develop safer nanomaterials and products that use these tiny particles.
The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) has contributed to pioneering European research that provides important guidance on how to develop safer nanomaterials and products that use these tiny particles.
Engineered nanomaterials (particles as small as one-billionth of a metre) provide special properties to products, such as making sunscreens and cosmetics more transparent and paints reflect light better or stopping the growth of mould. They are also used in healthcare, including identifying individual diseased cells within the body and more targeted and effective drug treatments.
However, there have long been concerns about how safe they are for human health and the environment. Their small size means they can pass through cell membranes, and their surface, shape and composition can mean they cause damage in biological systems.
Read more at: UK Center for Ecology & Hydrology
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