ROMNET-ERA
ROManian Inventory and NETworking for Integration in ERA-
Contract No. 510475, financed by European Commission (2004-2006)

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Previous issues are available on the project website: www.romnet.net
Flash News No. 6, April 6, 2005
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NMP-2004-3.4.1.5-2 - Interaction of engineered nanoparticles with the environment and the living world

Society and industry need a great deal more knowledge on the understanding of the interaction of engineered nanoparticles (NP) with the environment and the living world. Engineered NP produced on a laboratory or an industrial scale have various characteristics which depend upon chemical composition, chemical and physical surface treatment, size and shape etc. and thus interact in different ways with the environment and the living world. The expected STREPs should address interdisciplinary toxicological and eco-toxicological research on as many aspects as possible of the interaction of NP with the environment and the living world, i.e. exposure, including intake, uptake, time scale; dose and response, including cellular and molecular mechanisms, bio-persistence, bio-kinetics, etc. Emphasis is to be put on a systemic view of exposure, dose and response to better understand the underlying molecular and bio-molecular phenomena. Asbestos and other extensively studied particles are excluded. Animal testing should be avoided ; alternative ways are encouraged. Participation of research teams from all over the world is encouraged, according to rules, as well as the participation of industry.