Nanomaterial definitions in Australia

Australia announced a nanomaterials definition in a Dec. 18, 2010 news item on Nanowerk. The definition will be effective as of Jan. 1, 2011. From the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) document, GUIDANCE ON NEW CHEMICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR NOTIFICATION OF INDUSTRIAL NANOMATERIALS,

NICNAS WORKING DEFINITION1 OF INDUSTRIAL NANOMATERIAL

… industrial materials intentionally produced, manufactured or engineered to have unique properties or specific composition at the nanoscale, that is a size range typically between 1 nm and 100 nm, and is either a nano-object (i.e. that is confined in one, two, or three dimensions at the nanoscale) or is nanostructured (i.e. having an internal or surface structure at the nanoscale)”

[Notes to the working definition:

• intentionally produced, manufactured or engineered materials are distinct from accidentally produced materials

• ‘unique properties’ refers to chemical and/or physical properties that are different because of its nanoscale features as compared to the same material without nanoscale features, and result in unique phenomena (e.g. increased strength, chemical reactivity or conductivity) that enable novel applications.

• aggregates and agglomerates are considered to be nanostructured substances

• where a material includes 10% or more number of particles that meet the above definition (size, unique properties, intentionally produced) NICNAS will consider this to be a nanomaterial.]

The document is 15 pages long and goes into details about various categories including exceptions, permit categories, certificate categories, and more. I notice that the 1 to 100 nm range is the standard for this definition. I have never found a good explanation for why this particular range sets the standard. Why not .1 to 150 nm?

As for the Canadian scene, there’s been no final word about the Interim Policy Statement on Health Canada’s Working Definition for Nanomaterials since the public consultation closed in Aug. 2010.

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