ASTM Forms Subcommittee to Address Consumer Goods Containing Nanoparticles

ASTM International, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, has announced the formation of a subcommittee to develop standards for nanoparticle-enabled consumer products, such as goods that contain nanoscale silver. The new “Subcommittee on Nano-Enabled Consumer Products” (E56.06) will be part of “Committee 56 on Nanotechnology,” established in 2005 to develop standard terms, toxicity test methods, workplace handling guidance, and other voluntary standards for organizations working with nanoengineered materials.

ASTM seeks subcommittee members with expertise in analytical chemistry, measurement methods, textiles, consumer product safety, exposure assessment, and environmental chemistry. They will “develop standards for determining the presence of engineered nanomaterials in consumer products and understanding the potential for exposure from the use of these consumer products.” Planned projects include standards for measuring and evaluating the form of silver in textiles and liquids and standards for assessing nanosilver exposure potential from use of textile and liquid consumer products. See ASTM Press Release, September 2010, and BNA Daily Environment Report, October 8, 2010.