The unintentional release of ENMs used in products, including facade coatings for buildings, could play havoc on both the environment and human health. The NANOHOUSE EU funded project suggest that a product design can affect the unintentional release of ENMs and their risk assessment criteria should be used to assess and minimise potential risks.

The NANOHOUSE ('Life cycle of nanoparticle-based products used in house coating') project is backed with €2.4 million under the 'Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies' (NMP) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The study is presented in the journal Environment International, where it tackles engineered nanomaterials risk. The NANOHOUSE team suggests that this assessment criteria can be used to assure that development of products is not only safe but sustainable as well.

Various sectors such as medical, construction and transport depend on them because of their special properties: ultraviolet (UV)-resistant, flame-retardant, dirt-resistant, scratch-proof and self-cleaning. The scientists evaluated data from past research studies, such as ESTEEM project, and they also performed novel mathematical modelling of ENM behaviour and human toxicology.

In that way, the team singled out a number of assessment criteria for human health and the environment: environmental effects; solubility in water; sedimentation; stability during incineration; human toxicity; DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) impairment; impact on wastewater facilities; damage of tissue barriers; and translocation effects in skin, the gastrointestinal or respiratory tracts.