TY - JOUR A1 - Brüngel, R. A1 - Rückert, J. A1 - Wohlleben, W. A1 - Babick, F. A1 - Ghanem, A. A1 - Gaillard, C. A1 - Mech, A. A1 - Rauscher, H. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Weigel, S. A1 - Friedrich, C. M. T1 - NanoDefiner e-Tool: An Implemented Decision Support Framework for Nanomaterial Identification N2 - The European Commission’s recommendation on the definition of nanomaterial (2011/696/EU) established an applicable standard for material categorization. However, manufacturers face regulatory challenges during registration of their products. Reliable categorization is difficult and requires considerable expertise in existing measurement techniques (MTs). Additionally, organizational complexity is increased as different authorities’ registration processes require distinct reporting. The NanoDefine project tackled these obstacles by providing the NanoDefiner e-tool: A decision support expert system for nanomaterial identification in a regulatory context. It providesMT recommendations for categorization of specific materials using a tiered approach (screening/confirmatory), and was constructed with experts from academia and industry to be extensible, interoperable, and adaptable for forthcoming revisions of the nanomaterial definition. An implemented MT-driven material categorization scheme allows detailed description. Its guided workflow is suitable for a variety of user groups. Direct feedback and explanation enable transparent decisions. Expert knowledge is Held in a knowledge base for representation of MT performance criteria and physicochemical particle type properties. Continuous revision ensured data quality and validity. Recommendations were validated by independent case studies on industry-relevant particulate materials. Besides supporting material identification and registration, the free and open-source e-tool may serve as template for other expert systems within the nanoscience domain. KW - EC nanomaterial definition KW - Decision support KW - Expert system KW - Nanomaterial KW - Nanoparticles PY - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-492449 VL - 12 IS - 19 SP - 3247 PB - MDPI CY - Basel, CH AN - OPUS4-49244 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gaillard, C. A1 - Mech, A. A1 - Wohlleben, W. A1 - Babick, F. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Ghanem, A. A1 - Weigel, S. A1 - Rauscher, H. T1 - A technique-driven materials categorisation scheme to support regulatory identification of nanomaterials N2 - Worldwide there is a variety of regulatory provisions addressing nanomaterials. The identification as nanomaterial in a regulatory context often has the consequence that specific legal rules apply. In identifying nanomaterials, and to find out whether nanomaterial-specific provisions apply, the external size of particles is globally used as a criterion. For legal certainty, its assessment for regulatory purposes should be based on measurements and methods that are robust, fit for the purpose and ready to be accepted by different stakeholders and authorities. This should help to assure the safety of nanomaterials and at the same time facilitate their international trading. Therefore, we propose a categorisation scheme which is driven by the capabilities of common characterisation techniques for particle size measurement. Categorising materials according to this scheme takes into account the particle properties that are most important for a determination of their size. The categorisation is exemplified for the specific particle number based size metric of the European Commission's recommendation on the definition of nanomaterial, but it is applicable to other metrics as well. Matching the performance profiles of the measurement techniques with the material property profiles (i) allows selecting the most appropriate size determination technique for every type of material considered, (ii) enables proper identification of nanomaterials, and (iii) has the potential to be accepted by regulators, industry and consumers alike. Having such a scheme in place would facilitate the regulatory assessment of nanomaterials in regional legislation as well as in international relations between different regulatory regions assuring the safe trade of nanomaterials. KW - Nanomaterial KW - Nanoparticles KW - Categorisation scheme KW - EC definition of a nanomaterial KW - Regulatory identification of nanomaterials PY - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-471623 SN - 2516-0230 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - The Royal Society of Chemistry AN - OPUS4-47162 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -