Considerations for Safe Innovation: The Case of Graphene

Abstract

The terms "Safe innovation" and "Safe(r)-by-design" are currently popular in the field of nanotechnology. These terms are used to describe approaches that advocate the consideration of safety aspects already at an early stage of the innovation process of (nano)materials and nanoenabled products. Here, we investigate the possibilities of considering safety aspects during various stages of the innovation process of graphene, outlining what information is already available for assessing potential hazard, exposure, and risks. In addition, we recommend further steps to be taken by various stakeholders to promote the safe production and safe use of graphene.

Aggregation and sedimentation of shattered graphene oxide nanoparticles in dynamic environments: a solid-body rotational approach

“…1 Among various nanomaterials, the use of graphene nanomaterials is rapidly growing due to their broad constructional, industrial, environmental, and medical applications and arising from their use with other nanomaterials as nanohybrids. [2][3][4][5][6][7] Graphene nanosheets may end up in the environment in various forms of particulate matter such as crumpled graphene, [8][9][10] multilayer graphene, 4,5,11 shattered nanosheets, 12 and fractal aggregates/hetero-aggregates. 13,14 Once they have entered aquatic environments, aggregation of such particles can significantly affect their functionality and transport behaviour, particularly in aqueous and porous media.…”

“…13,14 Once they have entered aquatic environments, aggregation of such particles can significantly affect their functionality and transport behaviour, particularly in aqueous and porous media. 4,5,15 Despite the existence of many studies on homo-and hetero-aggregation of various nanoparticles (NP), 14,[16][17][18][19][20][21] and abundant reports on the impacts of various factors on the aggregation behaviour of these NP, [22][23][24][25][26] it still remains a problem of how system dynamics modify aggregation. It is particularly of paramount importance in groundwater (GW) transport to understand how complex multi-cascade processes of advective and diffusive transport, [27][28][29][30] tortuosity in porous media, 31 and the arrival of aggregates from upgradient pores 32,33 impact the aggregation behaviour of NP.…”

“…34,38,58,59 This may underpin development of new mathematical descriptions of aggregation mechanisms for a more accurate consideration of these mechanisms in models of NP fate and transport in the environment which take other complex concurrent transport/transformation phenomena into account. 38,41,60 Since the largest use of graphene nanomaterials may result from their high strength and flexibility (∼100 stronger than steel), 4 it is possible that they release into the environment as shattered graphene because they may undergo extreme physical or chemical stresses during the usage or upon entering waste streams. Therefore, in this study we use shattered graphene oxide (SGO) particles with a primary hydrodynamic size (D H ) of 90 nm.…”

Towards a more effective and efficient governance and regulation of nanomaterials

“…Some possible options are mentioned in this N1P White Paper [1] and to some extent have been developed in the NANoREG Framework, such as the "nano-specific risk assessment approach" [8] and the "safe-by-design approach" [9,10]. The first option is aligned with a more "concern-based testing approach" based on risk potentials that serve as indicators for potential hazards.…”

Mechanical characterization of functional graphene nanoplatelets coated natural and synthetic fiber yarns using polymeric binders

“…Amongst such materials, graphene and carbon nanotubes are proved highly conductive. However, we chose graphene due to health reasons, as CNT are quite carcinogenic [24,25].…”