National Toxicology Program

November 3-4, 2004: Held at the University of Florida Hotel and Conference Center, Gainesville, Florida

Purpose: A workshop addressing the challenges of conducting and interpreting studies of potential toxic effects of nanoscale materials.

Sponsored by: University of Florida, National Toxicology Program, National Science Foundation, Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• Workshop Program (external link)
• Organizers (external link)
• Participants (external link)
• Workshop Summary (external link)
• Workshop Report
• University of Florida Nanotoxicology page (external link)
• Contact for Workshop Information

NTP Nanotechnology Activities

• NTP Nanotechnology Safety Initiative
• NTP Nanoscale Materials factsheet

Post Meeting Notes

Complete workshop report available for download at http://www.nanotoxicology.ufl.edu

On November 3-4, 2004 a group of international experts met in Gainesville, Florida to identify and discuss issues associated with the proper conduct of studies to characterize the potential toxicities of manufactured nanoscale materials.

The 75 invited participants represented expertise in biology, medicine, toxicology, physics, chemistry, and materials science drawn from government, industry, academic and public interest sectors. The participants heard presentations and addressed in breakout sessions;

1. Characterization and dosimetry of nanoscale materials
2. Delivery of nanoscale materials to test systems
3. Toxicology study protocols appropriate for nanoscale materials
4. Detection and quantification of nanoscale materials in test systems/organisms and the environment
5. Laboratory safety and disposal issues
6. Specific issues related to uptake and toxicity to the respiratory, skin, and immune systems.

The workshop was organized by the University of Florida and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Toxicology Program. Workshop funding was provided by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the National Science Foundation, and the University of Florida.

The goal of this research program is to evaluate the toxicological properties of major nanoscale materials classes which represent a cross-section of composition, size, surface coatings, and physicochemical properties, and use these as model systems to investigate fundamental questions concerning if and how nanoscale materials can interact with biological systems.