Southeastern sponsors national conference on safe, sustainable use of nanotechnology in environmental remediation
Contact: Rene Abadie
Date: May 23, 2013
HAMMOND – An increasing number of hazardous waste disposal sites are using nanotechnology
and nanomaterials in their environmental remediation efforts, leaving open questions
about the safety of such techniques.
An inaugural national workshop will be held at Southeastern Louisiana University
June 5-7 to try to provide some answers to the questions and concerns on the safe
use of nanomaterials in environmental remediation.
Nanomaterials are tiny engineered particles, often smaller than the width of
a human air, that are being synthesized and formed to perform specific functions in
medicine delivery, pharmacology, industry and environmental remediation.
"While applications and results of nano-enabled strategies for environmental
remediation are promising, there is still the challenge of ensuring such applications
are both safe and sustainable," said conference organizer Ephraim Massawe. "The federal
government has established different projects coordinated by different agencies, called
signature initiatives. We plan on generating information supportive of some of these
federal initiatives."
The event, "Nano-4_Rem_Anseers2013: Applications of Nanotechnolgoy for Safe and
Sustainable Environmental Remediations," is a cooperative endeavor involving the university
and agencies and institutions, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
the National Institute of Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA). The Louisiana Board of Regents is providing partial
financial support.
Four keynote speakers are slated to address the three-day conference, which will
be held on the Southeastern campus. Speakers and topics include:
-- Patrick O'Shaughnessy, professor of occupational and environmental health in the
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Iowa, "Nanosafety:
Current Issues and Guidance;"
-- Dongye Zhao, Huff endowed professor of environmental engineering at Auburn University:
"Application of Stabilized Nanoparticles for in situ Remediation of Contaminated Soil
and Groundwater;"
-- Souhail Al-Abed of the EPA Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management
Research Laboratory in Cincinnati: "Nanotechnology and the Environment: an Overview
of Sustainable and Safe Applications in Site Remediation."
In addition, a representative of the National Nanotechnology Coordinating Office
will speak at the workshop.
The program is intended for representatives of the environmental remediation
community, nanomaterial vendors, consultants and contractors, academics, industry,
health and safety regulatory agencies, and state and federal government agencies.
Exhibitors will include companies showcasing instruments, equipment and new technologies
used in environmental remediation and nanomaterial monitoring.
Additional details on the program and registration information can be found on
the conference website: southeastern.edu/nano-5-rem-anssers.
Massawe said at least 30 EPA Superfund sites across the nation are currently
using nanomaterials in remediation operations.
"Nanotechnology per se began about 40 years ago, but it is slowly finding applications
in environmental clean-up operations. And, because of the infancy of nanotechnology
science in this area, little is known about the fate and transportation of these materials
or their human health impact and toxicity and the overall impact on the environment
and public health," said Massawe, an assistant professor of occupational safety, health
and environment. "Some recent animal studies suggest some nanomaterials could be linked
to lung diseases, cancers, brain tumors and pregnancy complications. There is a definite
need to bring together scientists, industry and other stakeholders to discuss safe
and sustainable handling practices of nanomaterials during environmental remediation
and, by extension, other applications of nanotechnology."
Massawe said the workshop will help develop best practices that will protect
public health and workers while developing the nanotechnology industry of the future.