NIEHS began actively encouraging and funding research into the underlying properties of engineered nanomaterials (ENs) to determine their potential biocompatibility or toxicity to human health. As part of that effort, NIEHS announced the availability of $13 million to study the health and safety of nanomaterials, which are very tiny materials about 100,000 times smaller than the diameter of a single strand of hair. Nanomaterials are used or being considered for use in clothing, pesticides, tires, electronics, medical diagnoses and imaging, and drug delivery. Grants were awarded for the development of reliable tools and approaches to determine the impact on biological systems and health outcomes. NIEHS announced the launch of the NanoHealth Enterprise Initiative in 2008.

Tags: notable NIEHS programs, toxicity