The Australian Nanotechnology Network

CSIRO NanoSafety

Name of Group Leader:

Dr Maxine McCall

Physical Address:

CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences
Delhi Road
North Ryde
NSW

Phone:

02 9490 5164

Fax:

02 9490 5010

Email:

maxine.mccall@csiro.au

Nanotechnology Research Programs/Activities:

CSIRO NanoSafety research seeks to assess and understand the impacts of nanomaterials and nanomaterial-containing products on human health and the environment to ensure that nano-research and product development is performed in a safe and socially determining the effects on human health and the environment of nanomaterials of national interest and assisting to develop guidelines and risk-management strategies for using nanoparticles. As this is a global problem, the Theme is also engaging with the OECD Program for Safety Testing of Manufactured Nanomaterials. The focus is on ZnO, CeO2, silver and carbon nanotubes. Projects include:
1. Tracing nanoparticles in mammalian systems (humans and mice)
2. Assessing toxicity of manufactured nanoparticles to primary human cells
3. Through the Australian Office of Nanotechnology, engage with the OECD’s Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials to define Australia’s contribution to the OECD sponsorship program for the safety testing of manufactured nanomaterials
4. Developing assays to assess toxicity of manufactured nanoparticles in model systems and natural waters for two model organisms using ZnO, Ce)2 and Ag
5. Investigating the fate and toxicity of carbon nanotubes in aquatic and terrestrial systems
6. Assessing the behaviour of carbon nanotubes in the air environment

Scale of Nanotechnology Research Effort:

Currently 18 research staff are involved amounting to around 8 FTEs. This includes two postdoctoral fellows. There are also a number of PhD students and honours project students
Budget 08/09 $1.4M

Nanotechnology research facilities:

Research facilities include:
North Ryde - Human health effects, dermal exposure of ZnO sunscreen formulations
Lucas Heights - Environmental effects, nanomaterial fate, ecotoxicology
Lucas Heights and Geelong - carbon nanotube atmospheric emission studies
Adelaide - Carbon nanotube fate and ecotoxicology, soil fate studies