LGC adds nanotechnology to list of reference materials
New references to aid evaluation of nanomaterials
LGC Standards has launched a range of reference nanomaterials to aid research and testing into the application and impact of nanotechnology.
The range of reference nanomaterials used in the international testing programme of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN) and released by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) are now available from LGC.
According to LGC, the WPMN is carrying out one of the world’s most comprehensive nanomaterial research programmes. Christoph Klein of the JRC’s institute for Health and Consumer Protection (IHCP) comments: “At IHCP, our primary goal is to provide scientific support to European Union policy regarding nanotechnology and public health in a sustainable environment. Within the WPMN, we have focused our work on a priority list of representative manufactured nanomaterials for which development of data would support characterisation, measurement, toxicological and ecotoxicological testing, and risk assessment or safety evaluation of manufactured nanomaterials.”
Reference nanomaterials available through LGC include multi-walled carbon nanotubes, silver nanoparticles, titanium dioxide, cerium oxide, zinc oxide, and silicon dioxide.
“We are extremely pleased to add nanomaterials to our range of 70,000 reference materials. These reference nanomaterials provide researchers with characterised materials for use in their testing models,” said Jane Firth, sector manager, LGC.