Applications of Nanomaterials in Everyday Materials and Processes

They’re invisible to the naked eye, yet nanomaterials are quietly transforming the world around us. Found in everything from food additives and cosmetics to electronics and medicines, these ultra-tiny particles offer remarkable possibilities — but also raise serious questions about human health and environmental safety.

What Are Nanomaterials, Really?

Nanomaterials are substances that contain particles with at least one dimension between 1 and 100 nanometers (nm). To put that into perspective, a human hair is about 80,000 to 100,000 nanometers wide. That makes some nanomaterials up to 10,000 times thinner than a strand of hair — placing them closer in size to individual atoms and molecules than anything visible.

Their minute scale isn’t just a quirky factoid. Because of their size, nanomaterials behave differently from their larger, conventional counterparts. Their properties — including shape, surface area, and reactivity — dramatically shift at the nanoscale, unlocking new capabilities in engineering, information technology, healthcare, and aerospace. But those same properties also trigger concerns about unknown or poorly understood health and safety risks.

Where Are Nanomaterials Found?

Some nanomaterials occur naturally. Volcanic ash clouds, sea spray, and forest fires all release nanoparticles into the environment. Human activities — like diesel combustion, welding, and even cigarette smoke — also generate them as byproducts.

The real growth, however, lies in engineered nanomaterials specifically created for commercial use. Some have been around for decades. For example, synthetic amorphous silica has long been used in concrete, car tires, and food additives. Others, like nano-sized titanium dioxide — prized for its UV-blocking properties in sunscreens and paints — and antimicrobial nanosilver for medical applications and textiles, are relatively recent innovations.

Perhaps the flashiest members of the nanomaterial family are carbon nanotubes. Famous for their exceptional strength, light weight, heat resistance, and electrical conductivity, these materials are increasingly used in electronics, energy storage, aerospace, automotive, and even sports equipment. As research surges ahead, newer generations of nanomaterials continue to emerge, driven by growing market demand.

What About Health Risks?

While the promise of nanomaterials seems limitless, their health effects are still not fully understood. A growing body of research has highlighted potentially serious risks. The EU’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) concluded that many engineered nanomaterials could pose hazards to human health. That said, toxicity varies significantly between materials, making case-by-case risk assessment essential.

The most documented health impacts occur in the lungs, where inhaled nanoparticles can cause inflammation, tissue damage, fibrosis, and even tumor formation. Certain types of carbon nanotubes have shown effects similar to asbestos when inhaled. Beyond the respiratory system, studies have detected nanomaterials in the liver, kidneys, heart, brain, bones, and soft tissues.

And there’s another danger: nanomaterials’ small size and high surface area can make them explosively reactive when airborne in powder form — a hazard absent in their larger, bulk counterparts.

Where Are Workers Exposed?

Most occupational exposure happens not in high-tech labs but throughout the supply chain — during production, handling, transportation, and product use. Often, workers are unaware of the presence of nanomaterials in the materials they handle, meaning protective measures may be inadequate.

Risky environments include healthcare settings, research labs, maintenance areas, and construction sites where nanomaterials might be processed, released into the air, or come into contact with skin.

What Does the Law Say?

In the European Union, existing worker protection regulations apply to nanomaterials, even though they aren’t always explicitly mentioned. Key directives include:

• 89/391/EEC: Framework Directive on the health and safety of workers.
• 98/24/EC: Protection from risks related to chemical agents at work.
• 2004/37/EC: Protection from carcinogens and mutagens.
• REACH and CLP Regulations: Cover chemical safety and labeling.

These rules require employers to assess and manage workplace risks, including those from nanomaterials. Where elimination or substitution with safer alternatives isn’t possible, exposure must be minimized through preventive measures — prioritizing engineering controls, safe handling procedures, and personal protective equipment.

What Should Be Done?

Despite the regulatory framework, the reality is that exposure risks can be hard to identify and control. The tiny size and elusive behavior of nanomaterials make it difficult to detect their presence or measure their concentration in the air. Fortunately, guidance documents and risk assessment tools are becoming available to support safer handling.

Employers and workers alike are urged to take a precautionary approach, especially given the ongoing uncertainties about long-term health effects.