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With the use of nanotechnology in the consumer and industrial sectors expected to increase significantly in the future, nanotechnology offers society the promise of major benefi ts. The challenge for environmental protection is to ensure that, as nanomaterials are developed and used, unintended consequences of exposures to humans and ecosystems are prevented or minimized. In addition, knowledge concerning how to sustainably apply nanotechnology to detect, monitor, prevent, control, and clean up pollution is needed.

The purpose of the Nanomaterial Research Strategy is to guide the EPA’s Office of Research and Development’s program in nanomaterial research. The strategy builds on and is consistent with the foundation of scientific needs identified by the Nanotechnology Environmental and Health Implications Working Group (NSTC, 2008), and in the EPA’s Nanotechnology White Paper (EPA, 2007).

program is to conduct focused research to inform nanomaterial safety decisions that may be made under the various environmental statutes for which EPA is responsible. EPA recognizes that the information generated through its research program is also likely to have use in areas beyond the Agency’s purview. EPA will collaborate across the government, industry, and the international community to implement this strategy. EPA’s in-house research program will leverage results from EPA grant programs, as well as collaborate with grantees to address the many challenging research issues outlined in this strategy.

EPA’s strategy focuses on four areas that take advantage of EPA’s scientific expertise as well as fi ll gaps not addressed by other organizations. The four research themes are:  Identifying sources, fate, transport, and exposure  Understanding human health and ecological effects to inform risk assessments and test methods  Developing risk assessment approaches  Preventing and mitigating risks EPA’s Nanomaterial Research Program is designed to provide information to support nanomaterial safety decisions. The eight key science questions described in the strategy are intended to help decision makers answer the following questions:

ƒ What nanomaterials, in what forms, are most likely to result in environmental exposure?
ƒ What particular nanomaterial properties may raise toxicity concerns?
ƒ Are nanomaterials with these properties likely to be present in environmental media or

    biological systems at concentrations of concern, and what does this mean for risk?
ƒ If we think that the answer to the previous question is “yes,” can we change properties or

    mitigate exposure?

Providing information to answer these questions will serve the public by enabling decisions that minimize potential averse environmental impacts, and thereby maximize the net societal benefit from the development and use of manufactured nanomaterials.