We want to develop risk assessment methods for nano-sized particulate materials (nanoparticles and nanotubes) using DNV’s risk management know-how and expertise that has been acquired during the last years, e.g. in the BioRisk programme and in DNV-Consulting.

Although there is no special legislation in the field of nanotechnology in any country at the moment, the safety and health aspect of nanotechnology has gained some interest in the last years. Different NGOs (e.g. ETC-Group) are very active in the publication of papers expressing their concern about the danger of nanoparticles and nanotubes.

Several conferences on the topic of Nano-Risk were held and both EU and the Norwegian Research Council are supporting nano-risk related research. Possible customers are authorities, industry, NGOs and consumers of nanotechnology. The motivation is to promote sustainable development and use of nanotechnology; to minimize business risk for producers of nanotechnology e.g. caused by the uncertainty of the health risk of nanoparticles and to minimize the risk for users of nanoparticles and other nanotechnology.

Human exposure to engineered nanoparticles is most likely to occur in workplaces where nanoparticles are produced or used. The "Materials" program at DNV R&I initiated the NANOTRANSPORT project (2006-2008), an EU project under FP6, to study the “Behaviour of Aerosols Released to Ambient Air from Nanoparticle Manufacturing”. More information about the project findings can be found on the NANOTRANSPORT homepage.