Current US legislation on the environmental, health and safety impact of nanomaterials in coating products

Master's Thesis from the year 2015 in the subject Chemistry - Other, grade: 7.5, Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, course: Chemical Innovation & Regulation, language: English, abstract: This study represents an analysis of the ability of current US environmental, health and safety regulations at a federal level to manage the risk posed by nanomaterials in coating products. Alongside the functional benefits from the use of nanomaterials in coating applications (e.g. antimicrobial, UV protection, anticorrosive, anti-scratch properties, etc.), there are concerns regarding the exposure of humans and the environment during the manufacture, processing, development, use and end of life stage of these materials. A life cycle paradigm is used, examining all regulations relevant to coating applications, identifying the issues in each regulatory framework but also, horizontal issues that govern all of them. This thesis makes an important contribution to the identification of which regulatory frameworks are the least effective and whether any changes are required.