Over the last decade, there has been an increase in funding for research on

and a rising number of publications that address the environmental, health, and

safety (EHS) aspects of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). Those efforts have led

to progress in understanding some aspects of potential EHS risks posed by ENMs.

However, research on the potential EHS implications of ENMs still lacks context,

particularly with regard to future risks,because uses of materials are changing

rapidly. EHS research efforts are not keeping pace with the evolving applications

of nanotechnology, and uncertainty persists about the potential implications of the

materials for consumers, workers, and ecosystems. To address those uncertainties,

the Environmental Protection Agency asked the National Research Council to

perform an independent study to develop and monitor the implementation of an

integrated research strategy to address the EHS aspects of ENMs. In response to

that request, the Committee to Develop a Research Strategy for Environmental,

Health, and Safety Aspects of EngineeredNanomaterials was formed and released

a report in January 2012, A Research Strategy for the Environmental, Health, and

Safety Aspects of Engineered Nanomaterials.That report developed a research

plan with short-term and long-term priorities and estimated resources needed to

implement the research plan.