The Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, CEDENNA, will represent Chile in an interlaboratory trial to be carried out among OECD countries to determine the “Solubility and dissolution rate of nanomaterials”. Last July, the Nanosafety Unit took part in a first briefing, where it was indicated that before carrying out this trial, a training session must be completed, which will take place in September in Schmallenberg (Germany). This session will be attended by Claudia Muñoz, PhD in Microbiology, who recently joined the Center to carry out this work.
Once this qualification phase is completed, the trials will be carried out in CEDENNA’s Nanobioassay laboratory, with the expectation of presenting the results at the end of this year. CEDENNA has the only Nanosafety laboratory in the country and has represented Chile at the OECD since 2019, participating in meetings of the Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN).
Leading this team is Dr. Mauricio Escudey, who highlights the importance of taking part in this trial proposed by the international organization, as it shows the growing visibility Chile is gaining in work to determine the safety of nanomaterials, as well as the center’s commitment in this important area.
At WPMN meetings, OECD member countries send representatives from different specialties (scientists, inventors, economists, policymakers, etc.) to discuss the best way to regulate everything related to manufactured (man-made) nanomaterials, develop new procedures, adapt existing ones and propose experimental procedures that allow the results associated with new nanomanufactured products to be validated internationally.
The proposals and projects developed under the OECD place special emphasis on establishing the methods the OECD will recommend for the analysis and characterization of nanomaterials; appropriate occupational exposure limits; environmental quality standards; labeling of consumer products containing nanomaterials; and other related topics.
What is decided at these meetings is relevant for Chile since, as a member country, any regulation arising from these working groups will be immediately available for implementation.
