Final Report Summary - IMPART (Improving the understanding of the impact of nanoparticles on human health and the environment)
The 'Improving the understanding of the impact of nanoparticles on human health and the environment' (IMPART) project was started February 1, 2005 with CHALEX Ltd. as coordinator. Work package 1 (Project management) and work package 2 (Coordination of initiatives' activities) began in month 1 of the project, while work packages 3 (Risk assessment of the effect of nanoparticles on health and the environment) and 4 (Dissemination and knowledge transfer) began in months 14 and 13, respectively.
The network web site went online in the first month of the project: http://www.impart-nanotox.org. This site includes a project summary, diary of events, details of the project consortium, discussion forum and a members' area for communication between partners. Once completed, a database of initiatives and activities in the field of nanotechnologies and health and environmental implications will be published online and updated regularly. Minutes of meetings and reports are published in the members' area of this web site and members are informed when additional content is made available.
The project kick-off meeting was held in Brussels, Belgium in month 2 of the project. The first coordination seminar was held alongside the kick-off meeting. The aim of this seminar was to increase awareness of the consortium partners of other work being carried out in the field, such that they are able to adapt their own projects and make recommendations to minimise duplication of research efforts. The second seminar took place in Karlsruhe, Germany in Month 11.
Expert group leaders were appointed during the kick-off meeting in Brussels and the first meeting of the expert groups was held alongside the first coordination seminar in Brussels. People from the consortium were split into expert groups according to experience and field of work. Members were divided into four agreed subdivisions of the topics:
- materials for consideration
- implications for human health and exposure
- impact on the environment and resulting legislative measures.
The report of the deliberations from these meetings has been disseminated amongst consortium members and published online for the benefit of all those involved.
The second meeting of the expert groups was held alongside the second coordination seminar and involved general discussion about the project and status of the work of the expert groups. Progress of work was discussed and gaps identified. Further specialisation of topics was performed, with each major subject divided into subprojects. These contributions will sum up to an extended report from the expert meeting.
After the first year, CHALEX was not able to provide all the necessary documents to the EC on time. Due to this situation the EC decided to suspend the project per June 14, 2006.
Due to a TEMAS initiative an internal review meeting was held on September 12, 2006 in Zurich. At the meeting several actions were planned and decisions taken to reach the lifting of the suspension of the project as soon as possible. In order to reactivate the project and to bring it to a successful end, a new strong team under the new coordinator TEMAS with previous and new partners was established. Five out of twenty partners left the consortium and five new partners joint it for phase 2.
In order to secure the main objectives of IMPART a new project planning, and new annex 1 for phase 2 (June 2007 - October 2008) has been elaborated. The key deliverables have been defined as:
1. Input report for phase 2 as summary IMPART phase 1 and the NanoTox project (Working report on the status quo of nanomaterials impact on health and environment)
2. Assessment of existing and identification of missing data
3. Recommendation and guidelines for legislation policy makers, research policy makers, industry, public and other stakeholders (Guidance booklet)
4. Dissemination and knowledge transfer: project website, nano safety and risk database, main conference for policymakers, conference with opinion leaders, national workshops.
The main exploitable results of IMPART include the database on nano safety and risk publications. In addition, four important reports emerged from the project:
1. Working report on the status quo of nanomaterials impact on health and environment
2. Recommendations and guidelines for legislation policy makers
3. Recommendations and guidelines for research policy makers
4. Guidance booklet on safe handling of nanoparticles for industry, public and other stakeholders.
The input report introduced nanotechnology and nanomaterials. It discussed nanoparticles and human health, exposure to nanomaterials, effects on environment, legal issues and regulation. Many of these reports and results of the project can be accessed or downloaded from the IMPART home page http://www.impart-nanotox.org or by direct access through http://www.temas.ch/IMPART/IMPARTProj.nsf
The network web site went online in the first month of the project: http://www.impart-nanotox.org. This site includes a project summary, diary of events, details of the project consortium, discussion forum and a members' area for communication between partners. Once completed, a database of initiatives and activities in the field of nanotechnologies and health and environmental implications will be published online and updated regularly. Minutes of meetings and reports are published in the members' area of this web site and members are informed when additional content is made available.
The project kick-off meeting was held in Brussels, Belgium in month 2 of the project. The first coordination seminar was held alongside the kick-off meeting. The aim of this seminar was to increase awareness of the consortium partners of other work being carried out in the field, such that they are able to adapt their own projects and make recommendations to minimise duplication of research efforts. The second seminar took place in Karlsruhe, Germany in Month 11.
Expert group leaders were appointed during the kick-off meeting in Brussels and the first meeting of the expert groups was held alongside the first coordination seminar in Brussels. People from the consortium were split into expert groups according to experience and field of work. Members were divided into four agreed subdivisions of the topics:
- materials for consideration
- implications for human health and exposure
- impact on the environment and resulting legislative measures.
The report of the deliberations from these meetings has been disseminated amongst consortium members and published online for the benefit of all those involved.
The second meeting of the expert groups was held alongside the second coordination seminar and involved general discussion about the project and status of the work of the expert groups. Progress of work was discussed and gaps identified. Further specialisation of topics was performed, with each major subject divided into subprojects. These contributions will sum up to an extended report from the expert meeting.
After the first year, CHALEX was not able to provide all the necessary documents to the EC on time. Due to this situation the EC decided to suspend the project per June 14, 2006.
Due to a TEMAS initiative an internal review meeting was held on September 12, 2006 in Zurich. At the meeting several actions were planned and decisions taken to reach the lifting of the suspension of the project as soon as possible. In order to reactivate the project and to bring it to a successful end, a new strong team under the new coordinator TEMAS with previous and new partners was established. Five out of twenty partners left the consortium and five new partners joint it for phase 2.
In order to secure the main objectives of IMPART a new project planning, and new annex 1 for phase 2 (June 2007 - October 2008) has been elaborated. The key deliverables have been defined as:
1. Input report for phase 2 as summary IMPART phase 1 and the NanoTox project (Working report on the status quo of nanomaterials impact on health and environment)
2. Assessment of existing and identification of missing data
3. Recommendation and guidelines for legislation policy makers, research policy makers, industry, public and other stakeholders (Guidance booklet)
4. Dissemination and knowledge transfer: project website, nano safety and risk database, main conference for policymakers, conference with opinion leaders, national workshops.
The main exploitable results of IMPART include the database on nano safety and risk publications. In addition, four important reports emerged from the project:
1. Working report on the status quo of nanomaterials impact on health and environment
2. Recommendations and guidelines for legislation policy makers
3. Recommendations and guidelines for research policy makers
4. Guidance booklet on safe handling of nanoparticles for industry, public and other stakeholders.
The input report introduced nanotechnology and nanomaterials. It discussed nanoparticles and human health, exposure to nanomaterials, effects on environment, legal issues and regulation. Many of these reports and results of the project can be accessed or downloaded from the IMPART home page http://www.impart-nanotox.org or by direct access through http://www.temas.ch/IMPART/IMPARTProj.nsf
