The European Commission (EC) intends to establish a digital infrastructure for advanced materials called the ‘Materials Commons’. This initiative intends to enhance the design, development, and testing of advanced materials. A key aspect of the platform will involve the use of artificial intelligence tools, which can potentially be used for optimized hazard and risk assessment of advanced materials.

A recent critical perspective argues that nanomaterials should be regulated as biological rather than chemical entities. The researchers emphasise the importance of using existing knowledge about the biological interactions of nanomaterials and their impact on human health and the environment. The authors list various well-known challenges regarding the safety assessment of nanomaterials.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has introduced new guidance for evaluating nanoparticles in food that may dissolve in lipids before consumption. By using the 1-octanol-water partition coefficient (KOW) method nanospecific considerations for safety assessments may potentially be waived.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2), previously banned as a food additive (E 171) in 2022 due to safety concerns, is used in medicines as an excipient. French scientists have estimated the intake of TiO2 from oral medications, finding that 54% contained TiO2, with an average daily intake of 1.71 mg. This is lower compared to the exposure from food when E 171 was still allowed.

Ex vivo exposure of human placentas to realistic concentrations of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and silicium dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles affect placental protein secretion, which slowed the growth of new blood vessels in an in vitro model. Current regulatory guidelines do not sufficiently address placental toxicity, highlighting the need for improved testing methods to evaluate the reproductive and developmental toxicity of nanomaterials.

The European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) has taken a significant step towards implementing a Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) approach. They published a report that outlines the process for industry players to adopt such an SSbD approach in their innovation process.

The European Parliament has rejected the revised Novel Foods definition of ‘engineered nanomaterial’. Concerns about the threshold for defining a material as an engineered nanomaterial being too high prevented its adoption.

Human biomonitoring can help improve (occupational) risk assessment, provided that a clear relationship exists between a biomarker and a biologically relevant (adverse) effect. Implementing biomonitoring in the workplace will also need to consider privacy aspects.

Interest in development of nanopesticides is growing due to their potential for greater activity or more gradual release of active substances than conventional pesticides. They are often seen as a promising sustainable alternative, requiring smaller amounts of active substances per hectare.

The European Commission aims for industrial leadership in advanced materials but puts limited focus on ensuring their safety and sustainability. The NanoSafety Cluster (NSC) has published a roadmap identifying critical actions related to the safety and sustainability of nanomaterials and other innovative advanced materials.