Evaluation of Airborne Particle Emissions from Commercial Products Containing Eng

描述（由申请人提供）：这个多阶段的STTR项目将产生一个标准方法来评估含有工程纳米材料的商业产品在使用或处置过程中对空气中颗粒的释放。碳纳米管（CNTs）是一类重要的工程纳米材料，广泛应用于体育用品、服装、电子元件、混凝土产品、水净化装置和汽车零部件等多种产品中。虽然我们对这些材料的命运知之甚少，因为含有它们的产品被使用和处理，但我们的初步数据表明，碳纳米管纳米复合材料（嵌入碳纳米管的环氧树脂）的磨损可以释放大量的空气中纳米材料。此类信息对于评估与向公众介绍这些产品相关的环境、健康和安全风险至关重要。对于第一阶段的工作，我们将构建一个测试设备并开发一种标准方法来表征含有工程纳米材料的产品在经历生命周期事件（如磨损、破损和粉碎）时空气中的颗粒排放（大小、形状、成分和速率）。然后，我们将使用这种方法来评估碳纳米管纳米复合材料的磨损排放（目标2）。这个项目的成功将被定义为能够识别空气中含有碳纳米管的颗粒，而不是在磨损过程中释放的其他颗粒。在第二阶段，我们将扩大我们的方法，包括模拟其他使用和处置事件（例如破损，粉碎），以及环境压力（例如，暴露于极端温度，紫外线照射，侵蚀过程）对碳纳米管纳米复合材料释放的影响。最终，这项工作将导致一个小型企业，评估含有工程纳米材料的商业产品的加工、使用和降解的后果。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This multiphase STTR project will result in a standard method to evaluate the release of airborne particles from commercial products that contain engineered nanomaterials during their use or disposal. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are an important class of engineered nanomaterials that are incorporated into diverse products such as sporting goods, clothes, electronic components, concrete products, water purification devices, and automobile parts. Although little is known about the fate of these materials as the products that contain them are used and disposed, our preliminary data suggest that abrasion of CNT nanocomposites (epoxy with embedded CNTs) can release substantial quantities of airborne nanomaterials. Information of this type is critical to assess the environmental, health, and safety risks associated with introducing these products to the general public. For the Phase I effort, we will construct a testing apparatus and develop a standard method to characterize airborne particle emissions (size, shape, composition, and rate) when products that contain engineered nanomaterials undergo life-cycle events, such as abrasion, breakage, and shredding (Aim 1). We will then use this method to evaluate the emissions from the abrasion of CNT nanocomposites (Aim 2). The success of this project will be defined as the ability to identify airborne particles that contain CNTs apart from other particles emitted during abrasion. In Phase II we will broaden our method to include simulations of other use and disposal events (e.g. breakage, shredding), as well as the effects of environmental stresses (e.g., exposure to temperature extremes, UV exposure, erosion processes) on the release of nanomaterials from CNT nanocomposites. Ultimately, this work will lead to a small business that evaluates the ramifications of processing, use, and degradation of commercial products that contain engineered nanomaterials. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This work will result in a standard method to characterize airborne particles released from commercial products that contain engineered nanomaterials during their use or disposal. The extent to which engineered nanomaterials are released into a person's breathing zone during life-cycle events is essential to estimating the risk associated with introducing these products to the general public on health and the environment.